Capybaras are native to South America. They are found in a wide range of countries including Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, Suriname, Ecuador, and Bolivia, but not Chile. They inhabit savannas, dense forests, and are typically found near bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes, swamps, flooded savannahs, and tropical rainforests. Capybaras are semi-aquatic mammals and excellent swimmers, spending much of their time in dense vegetation around water sources

. There are two species: the common capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), which is widespread throughout South America, and the lesser capybara (Hydrochoerus isthmius), which is mostly found in Panama and parts of Colombia and Venezuela

. Outside their native range, capybaras have been sighted occasionally in places like Florida in the United States, likely due to released or escaped pets, but they do not have established wild populations there

. They are also popular in captivity in zoos and parks worldwide, notably in Japan where they are well-loved and even have custom hot springs

. In summary, capybaras are originally from and primarily live in various habitats across South America, especially near water bodies.