The INCA were an ancient South American civilization that flourished in the Andes Mountains of Peru from the 12th to 16th centuries. They were the largest pre-Columbian civilization in the Americas and their descendants, the Quechua people, are still the largest indigenous population in Peru today. The INCA were a powerful and influential group, and their culture and traditions have been passed down through generations, making them an important Peruvian ancestor.