They're normally found grazing happily on the side of mountains.

But this alpaca has ditched the turf for the surf - and enjoys nothing more than catching a few waves with his human board buddy.

Pisco is thought to be the first alpaca in the world to learn how to surf.

His Peruvian owner, Domingo Pianezzi, had spent ten years teaching the sport to dogs and thought he'd take his animal training one step further.

Mr Pianezzi, 44, has slowly introduced Pisco, a domesticated Andean highland animal that resembles a small llama, to the waters of the Pacific Ocean over the past several months.

The duo caught three waves on a 10-foot (3-metre) long-board yesterday at a small break south of Lima, Peru's capital.

Pisco, wearing a flotation vest, crouched on the board while taking off on each wave and cruised for a few seconds before bailing into the water with a bit of a fright.

Mr Pianezzi, who teaches surfing to kids and has competed with his pets at international contests for surfing dogs, came up with the idea of hitting the waves with an alpaca while visiting Australia.

'I've surfed with a dog, a parrot, a hamster and a cat, but when I was at a competition in Australia I saw people surfing with kangaroos and koalas,' said Mr Pianezzi, who trains the alpaca in the Peruvian beach town of San Bartolo.

'So I thought that, as a Peruvian, it would be interesting to surf with a unique animal that represents Peru.'

Peruvians raise alpacas, a species of South American camelid, primarily for their warm wool and occasionally for food.

Mr Pianezzi said some San Bartolo residents have accused him of mistreating Pisco by taking a mountain animal into the ocean. Others, though, regard him as an innovator.

There are other hurdles, however. Unlike dogs, alpacas do not instinctively jump into the sea for a swim.

But Mr Pianezzi said Pisco, whom he named in homage to the distinctive Peruvian liquor distilled from grapes, is now completely used to the water.