When the Spanish invaded South America over 400 years ago, they found woolly animals with long necks called "pacos." From "el paca" in Spanish, the word evolved to "Alpaca."
Alpacas belong to the biological family Camelidae. Paleontologists believe that the first camelids appeared in present-day North America around 45 million years ago. These camelids diversified and prospered but remained confined to the North American continent until some 2 or 3 million years ago when representatives migrated to Asia and (after the formation of the Isthmus of Panama) South America. By the end of the last ice age (10,000-12,000 years ago) camelids were extinct in North America, possibly due to hunting or habitat alterations by the earliest human settlers. Three species groups have survived: the Dromedary of northern Africa and southwest Asia, the Bactrian Camel of eastern Asia and the closely related South American group composed of llamas (lama glama), Alpaca (lama pacos), Guanaco (lama guanicoe), and Vicuna (vicugna vicugna).
Alpacas were domesticated by the Incas over 5000 years ago who developed them into superior fiber producers and elevated them to a central place in their society. The imperial Incas clothed themselves in garments made from alpaca and many of their religious ceremonies involved the animal. Although thousands of years of animal husbandry and selective breeding practices were severely disrupted by the Spanish conquest of South America, evidence of extremely fine alpaca fiber has been found in Incan woven garment artifacts. The fiber of alpaca mummies found from the time period after the Conquest is not as fine and dense, probably due to crossbreeding. Some studies show that the Incan llama was purely related to the guanaco and the alpaca to the ultrafine-fibered vicuna. Interbreeding of these similar but distinct species likely occurred during the years following the Spanish invasion.
The Spanish conquistadors brought with them horses, sheep and other domestic animals that spread disease and competed with native animals for grazing space. Only the most remote Andean mountain habitats escaped total destruction. It was these surviving communities that would become the foundations of our worldwide alpaca and llama herds today.
The high altitude, thin air and harsh weather extremes of the South American Altiplano is credited for the alpaca's adaptation to difficult and varied environments. Alpaca red blood cells are elliptical, instead of round, which allows them to take up more oxygen. Alpacas are also accustomed to high UV rays, very cold nights and hot days. As an adaptation to steep and rocky terrain, alpacas are able to move the pads on their toes to maintain grip. Although their native land is sparsely covered with grasses and shrubs, alpacas are able to survive by efficiently converting their food to energy.
Alpaca fleece was apparently first spun in England around the year 1808 but was deemed unworkable. Alpaca fiber did not find success in commercial industrial production until it was incorporated into the cotton warps that appeared in the English textile trade around 1836. This development enabled Sir Titus Salt and other Bradford, England manufacturers to produce various styles of alpaca cloth, which in turn created a great demand for alpaca wool.
Outside of their native South America, the number of alpacas are extremely limited. In fact, 99 percent of the world's approximately three million alpacas are found in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. Alpacas were first imported to the United States in 1984. Alpacas are now being successfully raised and enjoyed throughout North America and abroad.
Alpaca owners in the U.S. enjoy a strong and active national organization. The Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA) has a growing number of regional affiliates and national committees addressing every aspect of the industry. The Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America (AFCNA) accepts fleece from its members, and turns the precious textile into quality alpaca garments and products. Members benefit from a ready outlet for their fiber, while the cooperative works to increase awareness of and demand for alpaca fleece. The Alpaca Registry has been established to help ensure accurate records and has a state-of the-art system to document bloodlines. An alpaca must now have its parentage verified through DNA analysis in order to be registered in the U.S. Virtually every alpaca in the U.S. is registered. The registry was closed to imported alpacas and alpacas of unknown parentage in 1998, effectively halting the importation of new breeding stock to the U.S.
- Adapted from the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA) website; the New Zealand Alpaca Association website, and Wikipedia.