Potatoes originated in the region of the Andes mountains in South America, specifically in what is now southern Peru and extreme northwestern Bolivia. They were first domesticated there between about 7,000 and 10,000 years ago by indigenous peoples, including the Incas

. This area remains the center of the greatest genetic diversity of potatoes, with thousands of cultivars still found in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, and Colombia

. The potato was initially cultivated by ancient Andean civilizations as a staple food. It was introduced to Europe in the mid-1500s after Spanish Conquistadors encountered it in Peru and brought it back

. From Europe, the potato spread worldwide and became a major global food crop. In summary, potatoes are native to the Andean region of South America, domesticated there thousands of years ago, and later spread globally following European contact in the 16th century.