There are two distinct breeds of alpacas: Huacaya (wah-KI’-ya) and Suri (“surrey”). Both fleeces are soft and luxurious. Eighty two percent (82%) of alpacas are huacaya, with full, puffy fleeces whose crimp or crinkle is found throughout their fleeces.

The alpaca comes in two breed types: huacaya (pronounced wuh-KAI-ya) and suri (SUR-ee). Huacayas, the more common type, account for about 85-90% of all alpacas. The two breed types vary primarily in terms of their fiber.

The alpaca comes in two breeds, Suri and Huacaya, based on their fibers rather than scientific or European classifications.

Presently, there are two types of alpacas: huacayas and suris. There are also crosses between huacayas and suris. Huacaya fleece and suri fleece differ quite a bit and that is the reason for the two distinct types. Huarizos are crosses between alpacas and llamas and are around but they would not be considered to be an alpaca.