The pineapple, Ananas comosus var. comosus, a major contribution from Precolombian civilizations to world horticulture, evolved from the wild A. comosus var. ananassoides in the Guianas and further developed into a wide range of large-fruited cultivars in the upper Amazon, more than 3,500 thousands years ago, before diffusing to all tropical Americas in prehistoric times. As wild relatives and primitive cultigens belong to the botanical varieties of A. comosus and to the wild tetraploid A. macrodontes, reproductive barriers are inexistent or limited to differences in ploidy. The exploitation of wild and primitive germplasm is promising for pineapple breeding; however, it is limited by the difficult characterization and introgression of resistance traits. In comparison, the development of ornamental cultivars appears straightforward, as interesting traits are much easier to manipulate. Other uses, as high-quality fiber production and pharmaceutical treatments, open new commercial perspectives. Ananas germplasm collections clearly need further investigation to realize their full potential.