A simpler configuration for a power transmission element for realizing gear shift functionality and center differential functionality is achieved in a transfer mechanism (3) for a four-wheel drive vehicle by which rotative power input to an input shaft (11) is transmitted to a rear-wheel output shaft (12) and a front-wheel output shaft (13). The power transmission element includes one planetary gear mechanism (20) configured having a group of gears (21 to 23) that are arranged in a single line in the axial direction and are not moved in the axial direction.