Quechuas (also Runakuna, Kichwas, and Ingas) is the collective term for several indigenous ethnic groups in South America who speak a Quechua language (Southern Quechua mainly), belonging to several ethnic groups in South America, especially in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia and Argentina. The Quechuas of Ecuador call themselves as well as their language Kichwa–Kichwas or Quichuas. In Colombia, the Kichwa-speaking group calls themselves the Ingas. Other Quechua speakers call themselves runakuna (Quechua for “people”, in Junín and parts of Ancash, Peru: nunakuna; singular: runa or nuna). Some historic Quechua peoples include: Inca; Tawantinsuyu Empire (largest Pre-Columbian Empire) Chancas (in Huancavelica, Ayacucho, and Apurímac, Peru); Huancas (in Junín, Peru; spoke Quechua before the Incas did); and Cañaris (in Ecuador; adopted the Quechua language from the Inca).
