What purpose does the American Kennel Club serve?

The American Kennel Club

(or AKC

) is a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. Beyond maintaining its pedigree registry, this kennel club also promotes events for purebred dogs, including the Westminster Kennel Club

Dog Show, an annual event which predates the official forming of the AKC, and the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. The AKC is not part of the International Canine Organisation, Fédération Cynologique Internationale, as most other countries' kennel clubs are.