They produce a fine-luxurious fiber
They are easy on the terrain because their feet are padded
With 3 stomachs, they convert food and water efficiently
They are very safe, friendly, mild-tempered animals
They naturally come in many different colors
They can be insured against loss or death
They are adaptable to varied habitat

Researchers believe that prehistoric relatives to the present day camelid family were actually native to North America. Nomad hunters began to develop settlements. These settlements became agricultural with skills in cultivation of plants and domestication of animals. This resulted in two camelid species becoming domesticated livestock: the llama and the alpaca. The llama was used for packing due to its size and strong frame.  The alpaca was recognized for its luscious fiber. The llama and alpaca eventually migrated into South America.

In the early 1500's, the Spanish Conquistadors set forth to conquer South America. In 1532, the Spanish conquered the Andean cultures of South America. They failed to see the value of the alpaca fiber, favoring the merino sheep of their native land. The alpaca herd was nearly wiped out due to hunting and diseases the Spanish delivered. The Andean natives were forced to move to the high grounds of the Andean mountains, taking with them what was left of their alpaca herds. With their great skills in herd management, they began to establish their herds once again. In 1984 the U.S. and Canada, along with several other countries, began importing alpacas from South America. Today, there are over 100,000 alpacas in the U.S. alone.