A Brief History of the Alpaca

The people of Peru have been breeding alpacas since 4,000 BCE. But it was undoubtedly during the height of Incan civilization in the 15th century that the alpaca began its greatest developments. The Incas placed emphasis on the quality of fiber production; husbandry and selection practices were designed around this goal. The results of this special breeding program are found in garments which are located in Incan burial grounds, and recently in alpaca mummies with micron counts in the teens.

During colonial and Early Republican Era's in Peru (1550-1824), the importance of the alpaca as a producer of fiber declined. The Spanish "conquistadors" failed to see the great advantages of the native alpacas and their fine fleece. It is in this time period that the descendants of the Incas became the sole breeders of the alpacas, using them as their exclusive source of food and clothing.

Sometime in the late 1910's, alpacas once again regained their importance in the Peruvian fiber industry. Along with the appearance of increased commerce due to the advent of motorized vehicles, the fiber trade was established in Puno and Cusco, while mills were open in Arequipa. By the 1960's the population of Peruvian alpacas was estimated to be over four million organized into large ranches that worked with the mills. However, in 1969, the Military Government of Peru began land reform, and in the process, most of these ranchers were forced to give up their farms. A precious few of the old ranches still remain such as Don Julio Barreda's famed Accoyo ranch and the Guerra family ranch called Nuna. The government began new cooperatives operated as "campesinos" or descendants of the indigenous Peruvians. These new ranches became the well-known farms of today such as Alianza, Sollocota, Kenamari and Kilkeparque. It was during this time that the little town of Macusani earned the title of The Capital of the Alpaca.

Peruvians have always sought to protect the Alpaca Industry. In 1927, Simon Bolivar (the South American Liberator) signed a decree to protect all camelids. Since then, alpacas have been treated as a unique and essential resource. Peru was the last South American country to open its borders to exportation and only approximately 3,000 alpacas have actually left Peruvian soil. These animals are now being raised in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, as well as others in Europe, and account for only 0.1% of the entire alpacas population in the entire world.

Owning and raising alpacas can be your opportunity to invest in thousands of years of quality, and to be part of the legacy that will continue on through into the next millennium!

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