ARI Recognized Fleece Colors

The following table of colors is used by the Alpaca Registry Incorporated (ARI) to color classify an alpaca.  Since there are dozens of variations of natural colors in the alpaca, the color spectrum must be simplified for ease of coding and entering alpacas into the national registration database.  The ARI recognized colors are represented by the following 16 color swatches.  If an alpaca is between shades (darker than one shade, say light fawn) but lighter than another (medium fawn) then the alpaca is to be coded to the darker shade (medium fawn). 

Alpacas are primarily shown in these color groups and are shown in the order of dark to light.  Blacks will enter the ring first to begin an alpaca show.  They will then be followed by the browns, fawns, and whites.  A show will finish with the fancy colors such as the greys and multiple colors (the multi's).  If you like to go home early then stick with the blacks ;-)