Alpacas originate from South America and are bred from the wild Vicuna which is now a rare and protected species. The llama is bred from the wild Guanaco, which is still relatively common through out South America. They are both in the camelid family, which also Includes the Asian camel. Domesticated for 9000 years, alpacas have played an important role in the survival and economy of the Andean people in South America. The value of the alpaca and llama was recognised as early as the 14th Century, when the Incas in South America used alpacas and Llamas for food, fuel, clothing, transportation and religious ceremony. Alpacas were considered so important to the survival of the indigenous people they were tightly controlled by the government and Incan royalty.
Alpacas and llamas thrived at this period with numbers swelling to 50 million animals. The decline of alpacas began in 1532 when the Spanish invaded South America and alpacas were pushed towards the Andes – 98% of the alpaca population were killed by the Spanish invaders. Llamas and alpacas were left to interbreed and changed from a single-coated animal to the two-coated animal of today. Breeding programs of today are aimed at improving the quality of alpaca and llama by breeding not forward but back to where it was some 500 years ago, prior to the Spanish conquest.
Alpacas are closely tied to cultural practices for Andeans people. Prior to colonization, the image of the alpaca was used in rituals and in their religious practices. Since the people in the region depended heavily on these animals for their sustenance, the alpaca was seen as a gift from Pachamama. Alpacas were used for their meat, fibers for clothing, and art, and their images in the form of conopas.
Conopas take their appearance from the Suri alpacas, with long locks flanking their sides and bangs covering the eyes, and a depression on the back. This depression is used in ritual practices, usually filled with coca leaves and fat from alpacas and lamas, to bring fertility and luck. While their use was prevalent before colonization, the attempts to convert the Andean people to Catholicism led to the acquisition of more than 3,400 conopas in Lima alone.
The origin of alpaca is depicted in legend; the legend states they came to be in the world after a goddess fell in love with a man. The goddess’ father only allowed her to be with her lover if he cared for her herd of alpacas. On top of caring for the herd, he was to always carry a small animal for his entire life. As the goddess came into our world, the alpacas followed her. Everything was fine until the man set the small animal down, and the goddess fled back to her home. On her way back home, the man attempted to stop her and her herd from fleeing. While he was not able to stop her from returning, he was able to stop a few alpacas from returning. These alpacas who did not make it back are said to be seen today in the swampy lands in the Andes waiting for the end of the world, so they may return to their goddess.