By Isabella Gerardo, May 5, 2026
Cal Poly Pomona’s three newest alpacas, Horchata, Kronk and Churro, were welcomed by students who celebrated the alpaca naming ceremony at Associated Students Inc.’s Summer Send Off Friday April 24.
During the ceremony, the alpacas and other petting farm animals made an appearance. Students fedand pet the animals, as well as met the new alpacas for the first time.
“We want to add more and more animals because animals remind us what it’s like to be human,” said Dean of Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture Ethan Orr. “I want students to have exposure to every type of animal.”
The alpacas are from a rescue program in Washington and were driven all the way down to CPP from the Canadian border. After the alpacas arrived, they did a 30-day quarantine to avoid any diseases being spread to the rest of the herd. Following the quarantine, the alpacas were socialized.
The alpacas arrived and made their first public appearance in February. As they were transported to the Student Services Building, only Interim President Iris S. Levine and her cabinet were meant to greet them.
But, according to Orr, it wasn’t long until students started running to see the furry animals.
Along with the three alpacas, the campus received new Teeswater sheep through the same rescue program. Teeswater sheep, an endangered species, are currently being used to demonstrate fiber production at CPP.
The alpacas will also provide wool for students in the Apparel Merchandising and Management department.
“I wanted to have more animals that you use their fur to create fiber for our clothing and our blankets and scarves,” said petting farm manager Rebecca Smith, who adopted the alpacas.
To name the alpacas, rvery college and department shared ideas via a name voting form. With those name suggestions, a voting form was made available for all students to participate in.
“I think it’s very important because the whole purpose of the naming was to include the students,” said ASI Agricultural Senator Madison Navarro who also works at the agricultural units on campus, specifically the beef unit.
The beef unit located in Building 32 is one of the three animal units at CPP. The other units are the swine unit and the sheep/wool unit, which is where the alpacas are housed.
After the retirement of Pancho, CPP’s guard-llama, Orr went to Provost Terri Gomez and advised getting three alpacas.
“We brought the alpacas to scare away the coyotes,” Gomez said. “And the reality is we haven’t had a coyote attack on the sheep since they’ve been here.”
