What is an Alpaca?

Shepherd  | Ruth Kinkade | 612.483.3506 | Hutchinson, MN |

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The Alpaca is a camel-like hoofed animal that descended from the wild vicuña of South America. Alpacas are closely related to llamas and together with the guanaco and vicuña species, they are known as camelids. Alpacas live in herds that graze in the Andes of southern Peru, northern Bolivia, and northern Chile at high altitudes

throughout the year.

 

 

Alpacas were treasured by the Incan civilization, their fine fleeces reserved for Incan royalty. Alpacas provided clothing, food, transport, fuel and companionship. Alpacas were close to extinction after the Spanish conquest of the Inca.

 

Their survival was largely due to two factors- 1. their importance to the Indian people and 2. to the alpacas’ ability to tolerate harsh climatic conditions.

 

There are two generally accepted types of alpacas. The ‘Huacaya’ alpaca is the most common alpaca type. It has very colorful dense fiber that is extremely fine which gives the alpaca a woolly and round appearance. The ‘Suri’ alpaca is covered in long, silky fibers that appear like dreadlocks and hang straight down from the body.