The alpaca is a species of South American camelid mammal. It is similar to, and often confused with, the llama. However, alpacas are often noticeably smaller than llamas. The two animals are closely related and can successfully crossbreed.

Alpaca fleece is soft, durable, and silky. The fibers are similar in size to our Merino wool, but they are mostly hollow, whereas sheep’s wool has pockets of air. It is the air pockets that trap heat, so alpaca fleece can be perceived as being warmer than Merino.