Araucana Origins - A Minor Mystery!

It seems that the Araucana is a breed that may have developed in South America from Polynesian or even Chinese birds, not European imports, as many have, until recently, imagined. Historical records show that inhabitants of western South American had well-established flocks of chickens at first contact which exhibited the attributes we associate wth this breed (albeit not all in the same birds!): rumplessness, tufts on the cheeks, and blue eggs. 

Moreover, it is now commonly accepted that the three unique features of the American Araucana (not to be confused with Americana) involved the crossbreeding of two distinct South American strains, the Collonca (Peru) and Quetro (Chile).

While there is still a lot of debate on the subject, many theories support migration of chickens from Polynesia or even China (a Chinese shipwreck dating to 1421 has been documented on the Chilean coast, and blue-shelled eggs are found in Chinese history as well). 
The history, fact-finding and ongoing speculation (not to mention argument) is absolutely fascinating!

Here are three excellent resources to get you started on your own Araucana mystery hunt:
http://www.araucana.com/Araucana_History.htm
http://www.aviculture-europe.nl/nummers/09e06a13.pdf
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Rapa/BRKRapanui.html