Guinea pigs, also known as cavies, live wild in South America's rocky areas, savannas, forest edges and swamps from Columbia and Venezuela southward to Brazil and Argentina.
They were one of the most important food sources in ancient Peru since well before Inca times. Peruvian archaeologists contend that domestication of the guinea pig may have begun as early as 5000 B.C. in the Altiplano region of southern Peru and Bolivia. It is in this region that wild cavy populations can still be found to this day. There is documentation of domestication at least by 900 B.C..
Historic statues depicting cavies are known from the Moche region of Peru's northern coast. This area saw significant guinea pig exploitation by 200 B.C..
Most people in the Andes region refer to the guinea pig by the name cuy. However, there are many highly localized names for the animal (among them, jaca, wanku, conejo peruano, curi, acurito, etc.). Black is the rarest color for native cuy, and this color guinea pig is often specially selected for traditional religious or medical usage.
In the Andes region, Cavies are typically housed indoors, usually in the kitchen, and allowed to roam freely. Some families would provide them with cubbyholes or adobe hutches (cuyeros) for shelter. Andean families would keep at approximately 20 animals like this. They are viewed in much the same way as chickens. A mating pair is a typical household gift. Cuy are never named nor considered as pets.
The guinea pig soon found its way to the European continent. The Spanish conquerors, who crossed southern Central America in search of treasure, mentioned these animals that they encountered in houses everywhere. Guinea pigs arrived in Europe as early as 1540. Swiss zoologist Konrad Gesner wrote the book 'On the Indian Rabbit or Piglet' in 1554. People assumed that Columbus discovered India and they called everything that came from there as 'Indian'.
Guinea pigs came to Holland in the 1670s from what was then the Dutch Guyana. Dutch merchants believed that the guinea pigs would make good playmates for their children so they took them back to the Netherlands.
From there, they spread even more throughout Europe as people tried to make a profit over breeding them. This was short-lived.
The name 'guinea pig' is of uncertain origin.
'Guinea' might be a corruption of Guiana in South America, or it may refer to Guinea in West Africa, where the cavy may have passed through on its way to Europe with the slave trade. It could also refer to the gold coin known as a guinea, which is often said to have been the price one paid for the friendly rodent that squeaks like a pig.
