Auqui (in quechua: awki) was the title held by the crown prince in the Inca Empire or Tahuantinsuyu. In a generic way, all the male children of the Inca were called auquis; however, the specific title was applicable only to one of them, whose choice was based on criteria different from those of the Eastern world because his capacity was taken into account, rather than his status as first-born or legitimate son.[1]
By extension, auqui in the Inca mythology and in the current Andean mythology, is the protective spirit of a community, a mythical character who lives in the mountains and corresponds to the soul of the high peaks. In current Quechua language the term is generally used in its plural form awkikuna.[2]: awki