The article discusses the relevance and performance of the ayllu among the Quechua-speaking, indigenous-peasant populations of the Eastern corner of the Department of Cusco, focusing on two concrete ethnographic examples: Phinaya (District of Pitumarca, Province of Canchis), and Marcapata (Province of Quispicanchi). Considering several morphological, ritual and symbolic aspects, the analysis of field data suggests that despite social and political boundaries significant characteristics of the Eastern Cusco populations share outstanding similarities with the peoples of Collasuyu. Therefore, the paper proposes the necessity of linking the ethnographic data about Southern Peruvian populations with the ethnographical and ethnohistorical research concerning their Bolivian homologues.