The title used for the principal wife of the Sapa Inca was Coya.
Coya, also written quya, identified the Sapa Inca’s primary wife and queen consort. She was not simply a ceremonial spouse: the position belonged to the highest level of Inca society and could carry political, dynastic, and religious importance. In accounts of succession, the coya could influence which son was considered suitable to inherit the throne.
The Inca royal family followed distinctive marriage customs. A Sapa Inca commonly married a close female relative, often a full sister, to preserve royal lineage and reinforce claims to sacred ancestry. Individual coyas included Mama Ocllo Coya, wife of Topa Inca Yupanqui, and Coya Cusirimay, wife of Huayna Capac.
The alternatives describe different things. A curaca was a local Indigenous ruler or community leader, while Mama Quilla was the moon deity. An aclla was a selected woman associated with state institutions, textile production, and religious service—not the Sapa Inca’s principal wife.