Case file · Folklore / legend
La Pincoya
The Pincoya is a beautiful sea spirit of Chiloé whose dance on the shore foretells abundance: if she dances facing the sea, fish and shellfish will be plentiful; if she faces the land, they will be scarce.
1914 CE · -42.63, -74.11 · status: legend
The account
She is said to rescue drowned sailors and carry them to the Caleuche, and to abandon beaches where people over-harvest. The year is approximate, marking early 20th-century folklore collections. The pin marks the Pacific coast of Chiloé near Cucao.
The sceptical view
A folklore figure; researchers note that her rules encode a practical ethic of sustainable fishing.