Sheltering Pines

Welcome to the NASSA website!

The mission of the North American Shetland Sheepbreeders Association is to preserve, promote, and protect the Shetland breed in its full diversity of colors, patterns, and fleece types.

Shetland sheep roots go back more than 1,000 years, probably to sheep brought to the Shetland Islands by Viking settlers. The North American Shetland Sheepbreeders Association, or NASSA, assists breeders of Shetlands in maintaining the purity and quality of this unique and colorful breed. NASSA provides registration and pedigree records for informed breeding decisions. If you are a current Shetland Sheep breeder, you’ll find resources on this page including NASSA forms and the breed standard.

If you are considering purchasing sheep, now is the time to take a closer look at the colorful Shetland sheep breed. Shetland wool is soft, fine, silky, and durable and a delight to spin, knit or crochet. Shetland sheep are considered a primitive or “unimproved” breed. This means that although they are small and relatively slow-growing, they maintain their natural hardiness, thriftiness, easy lambing, adaptability and longevity. Having retained most of their primitive survival instincts, Shetlands are easier to care for than many of the “improved” breeds seen today.

How to Buy a Shetland Sheep
Sample Bill of Sale

Use the navigation links above to find more information about NASSA and Shetland sheep. Our latest articles are shown below. Enjoy your visit!


Popular Forms, Pages and Links


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Post image for Spring 2023 NASSA News

Spring 2023 NASSA News

by Site Admin on April 1, 2023

NASSA News Cover

The Spring 2023 issue of NASSA News is now available to download from the Members Area of the Online Database website. If you are a NASSA member and have already set up your Members Area account, go to the NASSA News page and log in to see the link for downloading the latest issue. Or if you are a current NASSA member without an account for the Online Database site, go to the Membership Info page and click the “… become a Search Site member” link near the bottom of the page to set up your account. You will need to have a valid email address in your NASSA member information in order to set up your account.

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Post image for Winter 2023 NASSA News

Winter 2023 NASSA News

by Site Admin on January 3, 2023

NASSA News Cover

The Winter 2023 issue of NASSA News is now available to download from the Members Area of the Online Database website. If you are a NASSA member and have already set up your Members Area account, go to the NASSA News page and log in to see the link for downloading the latest issue. Or if you are a current NASSA member without an account for the Online Database site, go to the Membership Info page and click the “… become a Search Site member” link near the bottom of the page to set up your account. You will need to have a valid email address in your NASSA member information in order to set up your account.

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Fall 2022 NASSA News

October 1, 2022
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The Fall 2022 issue of NASSA News is now available to download from the Members Area of the Online Database website. If you are a NASSA member and have already set up your Members Area account, go to the NASSA News page and log in to see the link for downloading the latest issue. Or […]

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NASSA 2022 AGM – Register Now

July 11, 2022

Join us for the virtual NASSA 2022 Annual General Meeting Saturday November 12, 2022 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. EST 12:00 p.m. Dr. Christian Posbergh, Montana State University, Application of Commercial Management Techniques for the Heritage Small Flock Shepherd 1:00 p.m. Lydia Christiansen, Abundant Earth Fiber Mill, Yielding the Best Results From Small Batch Processing […]

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Summer 2022 NASSA News

July 2, 2022
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The Summer 2022 issue of NASSA News is now available to download from the Members Area of the Online Database website. If you are a NASSA member and have already set up your Members Area account, go to the NASSA News page and log in to see the link for downloading the latest issue. Or […]

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Spring 2022 NASSA News

March 30, 2022
Thumbnail image for Spring 2022 NASSA News

The Spring 2022 issue of NASSA News is now available to download from the Members Area of the Online Database website. If you are a NASSA member and have already set up your Members Area account, go to the NASSA News page and log in to see the link for downloading the latest issue. Or […]

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NASSA 2022 AGM

March 17, 2022
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Join Us! Advertise in NASSA News!

February 3, 2022

Shetland Sheep, like the people who raise them, are unique individuals. Consider advertising your Shetlands and Shetland products in NASSA News, the official NASSA Newsletter published quarterly on the NASSA website. You may design your own ad or one can be designed for you at no extra charge. Call today and let us know how […]

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Winter 2022 NASSA News

January 2, 2022
Thumbnail image for Winter 2022 NASSA News

The Winter 2022 issue of NASSA News is now available to download from the Members Area of the Online Database website. If you are a NASSA member and have already set up your Members Area account, go to the NASSA News page and log in to see the link for downloading the latest issue. Or […]

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NASSA 2021 AGM

October 3, 2021

Online and readily accessible from any location via Zoom Saturday November 6th 10:00 AM Pacific time For a $10 registration fee you can join fellow Shetland sheep and wool enthusiasts to learn about: Jeane deCoster – Shetland Fleece — Not just for Handspinners Stephany Wilkes – By hook or by crook: Starting a fiber marketing […]

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