---
title: The Coquena
description: Deities of South American aboriginal traditions whose function is
  to protect wild species
author:
  name: Graciela Paula Caldeiro
  url: http://graciela-caldeiro.idoneos.com
canonical: https://mitologiaamericana.idoneos.com/en/el_coquena/
source: en/el_coquena/index.md
---

<h2 id="el-coquena">The coquena</h2>

The legend of the coquena can be traced back to <a class="wiki" href="/en/incas/">Inca</a> traditions, from which it has spread southward. It was transformed into a second-order Diaguita-Calchaquí deity but with its own cult. It protects Andean animals in general and vicuñas, llamas, and guanacos (the camelids) in particular.

Like Llajtay, the coquena is not the enemy of all hunters, but only of those who prey upon and kill indiscriminately, including young animals and nursing mothers.

The coquena wears a Colla wool cap with ear flaps, although further south it is also described wearing a sheepskin hat.