Hidden deep in the protective ranges of the Andes Mountains live the curious and beautiful alpaca. They are hardy, versatile, and highly valued for their exquisite fiber. There are approximately 3.5 million alpaca world wide today, but this wasn’t always true. In their nearly 6000 years of domesticated history, alpacas have been cherished by the Incas, decimated by the Conquistadores, revived by the Peruvian people, slaughtered by terrorists, and finally exported into America, Canada, Australia, Europe, and Japan. Their history is much like the Andes Mountains they call home; surrounded by lush green valleys and rugged mountain passages. Steady, as their feet traverse these dangerous cliffs, so have they made it through the ages and overcome near decimation, not once but twice.
By 3500 B.C. pre-Incan civilizations were beginning to realize the value of this elegant, humming creature. These ancient people began to gather the alpaca and use them for clothing and food. These were the ancestors of one of the greatest civilizations that the world has ever seen and many would argue that it was built on the backbone of this small but resilient creature.
Legend says that Manco Capac founded the Incan Empire in 1200 A.D at the city of Cuzco when the unification of the western coast of South America occurred, resulting in the Incan Empire. This civilization spread an amazing 2,500 miles at the height of their glory, holding the alpaca as its greatest possession. Robes were made for royalty and nobility and armies were paid for their service with alpaca fleece. A person’s wealth was determined by the quantity and quality of alpaca he owned. Some even suggest that history was written in knotted tapestries using yarn made from alpaca fiber. The Inca were the first to perfect the breed by selectively breeding animals for color and fiber quality. It is assumed that white was the most valued because it is the dominant color today.
It is not known how many alpaca lived at this time, but by 1527 civil war and the smallpox epidemic had made the empire weak, which made the arrival of Francisco Pizarro and the conquistadores in 1529 all the more devastating. The Spanish were able to defeat the Incan royal army with only 108 men, 27 horses, and one cannon. They saw the alpacas as useless and slaughtered them, leaving them to rot in fields. The Incas’ cherished herds, that were separated by color, were now 90% destroyed.
As the destruction of this empire continued, a few Inca with their most prized alpaca were able to retreat to a stronghold deep in the Andes Mountains. This place was called Vilcabamba or “Sacred Valley.” The alpaca were kept safe in this fertile valley for 36 years until 1572 when the Spanish discovered the stronghold and killed the last Incan ruler, Tupac Amaru.
As the destruction of this empire continued, a few Inca with their most prized alpaca were able to retreat to a stronghold deep in the Andes Mountains. This place was called Vilcabamba or “Sacred Valley.” The alpaca were kept safe in this fertile valley for 36 years until 1572 when the Spanish discovered the stronghold and killed the last Incan ruler, Tupac Amaru.
The future of the alpaca was again at stake. The Spanish could not see the value of these majestic creatures and viewed them as competition for grazing grounds for their sheep. The alpaca was killed for its meat.
It wasn’t until the early to mid 1800’s that the alpaca was restored to its rightful place as a provider of fine fiber for the elite. Sir Titus Salt of London was a textile entrepreneur who found alpaca fiber to be much stronger and softer than the commonly used sheep wool of the day. Many told Sir Titus that he was crazy for “even touching the stuff.” Despite these comments, Sir Titus began making fine cloth from alpaca fiber in his mills and used it to make elegant dresses for the upper class ladies. It was because of this mans foresight and the beautiful fiber produced by the alpaca that Sir Titus became one of the wealthiest men in Yorkshire, England, in under 10 years following the first produced alpaca garment.
The alpaca industry was gaining popularity and the export of its fiber became a major source of income for the people of Peru. By 1980, however, the alpaca would have to overcome another treacherous assault inflicted on them by the same people that once cherished them. Terrorist organizations made up of the Peruvian communist party wanted to establish a communist regime. They created a blood bath of terror, killing farmers and their livestock, knowing full well the value of alpaca to the Peruvian people.
Alpaca numbers were beginning to drop dramatically again and something would have to change soon in order to preserve this long time staple of Peru. The neighboring countries of Chili and Bolivia had begun exporting alpacas in 1983, but it was still illegal in Peru. By 1990 a new President was elected, President Alberto Fujimori, who is credited with crushing the violence of the Peruvian terrorist groups. He saw the value in the export of this resilient animal and made it legal to export Peruvian alpacas in 1991.
America saw its first Peruvian alpacas in 1993; since then the Peruvian bloodlines have become the most prized. Some believe that the Peruvian alpacas have been kept the most pure (meaning without Vicuna, Guanaco, or Llama blood) amidst all the fighting and turmoil. Others believe the alpaca of the Inca was far superior to our alpacas today, but we believe the alpacas of today have been made stronger and more resilient as they fought near extinction throughout history.
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