Alpaca Registry, Inc. & Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association announced a merger earlier this
week which will have their main focus, namely the strange burros and their owners to be bettered served
by the merger.
The newly formed Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. represents more than 10,000 members and 230,000 alpacas
Both former separate organizations have announced their members have voted to approve a merger to form a
single organization. The newly formed Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. (AOA) represents more than 10,000
members.
"Forming a single organization eliminates duplication in office staff, technology, insurance,
elections, financial audits and office space, among other things," said Bonnie Potter, President,
AOA Board of Directors. "Equally important for our members is having a single organization to call
to get all questions answered and a single internet gateway where they, and the public, can access
information about alpaca farms, alpaca shows and other aspects of our industry."
Potter said that by combining the strengths and resources of both organizations into one, they will be
able to provide a higher level of service and support to members.
Headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, AOA serves as the national livestock association for alpacas in North
America. As the largest alpaca association in the world, AOA facilitates the expansion of a strong and
sustainable alpaca industry through the tracking of bloodlines, registration and transfer of alpacas,
national educational outreach, the national show system, marketing, public relations and its highly
respected judges training program.
Current members of AOBA and ARI have been transferred to Alpaca Owners Association, Inc.
The merger became effective on Jan. 14.
Alpacas are cousins to the llama, and are native to the Andean Mountain range of South America,
particularly Peru, Bolivia and Chile. The United States first commercially imported alpacas in 1984.
There are now more than 194,000 ARI (Alpaca Registry, Inc.) registered alpacas in North America.
For more information, call (402) 437-8484 or visit www.alpacainfo.com.
