2023/2024 Alpaca Owners Guide

Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. (AOA)

T he North American alpaca industry formally began in 1988 with a small group of 87 members and an alpaca population of less than 400 animals. Since that time, the industry has expanded significantly. AOA itself has not been around very long, the result of merging the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association into Alpaca Registry, Inc. in January, 2014, to create a single national breed association for alpacas. AOA represents the United States, as well as many alpaca owners in Canada. With over 2,000 active members and more than 286,000 registered alpacas, AOA is considered to have the world’s premier pedigree registry, show system, and judge

training system. Alpaca organizations around the world have used AOA as a guide in setting up and managing their own organizations, often sending their show judges to the United States to be trained. As the national breed association, AOA provides a variety of services and resources to the alpaca industry, including:  Internationally recognized pedigree registry  Internationally recognized judge training program  Alpaca show system, which includes certification of alpaca shows and the publication of the Show System Handbook  Annual AOA National Halter and Fleece Shows

Many alpaca breeders choose to show their best animals and fleeces at AOA's certified alpaca shows.

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