Registration

Registering your newly born alpacas is very important. Registration validates the alpacas' pedigree and tracks the bloodline. This validation is achieved through DNA testing, which AOA has conducted since 1998. Prior to 1998, AOA used blood typing to validate the parentage of alpacas. This science-based pedigree registry supports the value of your alpaca, allows your alpaca to register for alpaca shows, and helps the entire alpaca community by tracking the pedigrees. When buying alpacas, you should always ensure that they are AOA registered alpacas and verify that the registration certificate lists the person's name who is selling the alpaca.

What information does AOA track on a registration?

• Current Indicated Owner(s)
• Indicated Sire Owner(s) at time of Conception
• Indicated Dam Owner(s) at time of Conception
• Indicated Dam Owner(s) at time of Birth
• Alpaca Name
• Alpaca ID# (also known as the registry number)
• Gender
• Date of Birth
• Country of Residence
• Country of Birth
• Alpaca Coloration
• Microchip Number
• Tattoo
• Ear Tag
• Breed Type
• Ancestry showing Five Generations (if available)
• Certificate Issued Date
• Registration Date
• Number of Certificates Issued
• Certificate Barcode Number

Cost to Register an Alpaca

Costs of registration vary, but in general they increase the longer you wait to register the alpaca. As a result, it is in your best interest to register an alpaca as soon after birth as possible. AOA recommends that the registration process be started by two months of age to ensure timely registration of the alpaca prior to its first show or its sale.

It is important to register every alpaca regardless of whether they are breeding, non-breeding, or gelded. Registration of all alpacas helps ensure that gaps don't exist in pedigrees and helps reduce questions from potential buyers. In fact even registering geldings is very inexpensive. For current prices, download AOA's fee schedule.

Security of Registration

AOA provides a digital certificate to every registered alpaca owner.

How Long Does Registration Take?

It takes approximately 3–5 weeks to receive your registration certificate if everything is filled out properly, the blood card sent in, and the registration paid for. To help ensure quick processing, AOA recommends submitting the registration online because it reduces errors and omissions.

Transfer of Registration

Whenever an alpaca is sold, the registration must be transferred into the new owner's name. In the event that the alpaca is being sold on contract, usually the registration will remain in the seller's name until the terms of the contract have been met. When considering the purchase of an alpaca, you should always request to see the registration certificate and ensure that the alpaca is registered in the name of the person selling it. If it is not, you should be very cautious about purchasing this alpaca because you could potentially be at the mercy of the person who is listed on the certificate in order to complete the transfer of registration or the registration of cria that may be produced by the alpaca you are purchasing.

Costs

Costs of transfer vary, but in general, they increase the longer you wait to transfer the alpaca after the sale is complete. As a result, it is in your best interest to transfer the registration of an alpaca as soon after the sale as possible. AOA recommends that the transfer process be started immediately following the sale to ensure the timely transfer of the alpaca prior to its first show, its breeding, or its sale to a new owner.

It is important to transfer every alpaca regardless of whether they are breeding, non-breeding, or gelded. Transfer of all alpacas helps ensure that gaps in ownership don't exist in the AOA database and helps to locate the alpaca should it become necessary in the future. It also helps reduce questions from potential buyers. In fact even transfering geldings is very inexpensive. For current prices, download AOA's fee schedule.

How Long Does It Take?

After submitting and paying for the transfer, emails will be sent to the current indicated owners. The transfer completes after all indicated owners log in and authorize the transfer. A pdf of the certificate will be emailed immediately after all authorizations are received.