A Couple Guinea Pig Questions?

Guinea pigs weren't bred or created, they are naturally occurring wild rodents from South America - Peru to be exact. When they were discovered, they were initially used for a food source, by the native people of the area. Eventually they became pet animals, I can't recall when, and I'm lazy and don't want to look it up for you. Now they are mainly used as companion animals, though they are still eaten in some parts of the world!