Angora rabbits are sometimes said to have originated in the Ankara region of Turkey, but little evidence supports this claim. The rabbits may have only received their moniker because of the remarkable similarity between their hair and that of the Angora goat, which is also often alleged to have been initially developed through selective breeding in that region. The first Angora rabbit did not appear in England until the late 1700s, when they began being raised there in order that their luxurious wool could be spun into yarn for clothing solely worn by nobility. The beautiful, gentle-tempered animals soon became pets for the wealthy as well, and were eventually brought to the United States sometime following the First World War. Today, the animals continue to serve the dual purpose of pets and wool producers in various locations around the world, but are most popular in France and England.