Were Turkish Angora cats bred for a reason?

Turkish Angora cats were not originally bred for a specific reason. Instead, they developed naturally in the Ankara region of Turkey. In the early 20th century, Turkish Angoras were at risk of disappearing due to interbreeding with other domestic cats. To preserve the breed, the Turkish government, in collaboration with the Ankara Zoo, began a breeding program to protect and maintain the purebred Turkish Angora.