Cavia superporcellus
The Super Guinea Pig was developed in Peru in the hopes of creating an international demand for the meat. The guinea pig, or Cavy, has been a significant part of Peruvian culture and diet for thousands of years, but outside of the Andes region it has been seen as more of a pet. In order to be a successful product, the breed has been developed to grow bigger faster in order to meet market demand. The guinea pig meat business was slow at first, but after marketing it as a high protein, low fat super food, its popularity grew. Development continued to increase the weight of the large muscle groups, particularly the thighs. Ten years after Peru began exportation, the first guinea pig specific food cart, Cavy Shack, opened in Portland, OR. In less than five years Cavy Shack franchised and was soon popular from coast to coast. Many restaurants now offer at least one guinea pig dish and as the guinea pig has grown to a considerable size it is even becoming a popular alternative to holiday turkey or ham.