MyBest DNA Test for Polynesian & Pacific Islander Ancestry in 2026
Polynesian and Pacific Islander ancestry is one of the less consistently covered categories among mainstream DNA testing providers, since reference panels for remote Pacific populations have historically been smaller than for other world regions. Coverage varies significantly by provider.
At a glance
| Service | Polynesian-relevant feature | Base price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| MyHeritage | Ancient Origins includes a Polynesian & Pacific Islander ancient-population category built from published archaeogenetic research | $89 | The most direct mainstream ancient-population comparison for this specific category |
| 23andMe | Includes broad Pacific Islander categories in its ethnicity estimate, though generally with less sub-regional detail than for more heavily sampled world regions | $119 | A modern ethnicity estimate alongside other standard features |
| AncestryDNA | Includes Pacific Islander ancestry as a broad category within its ethnicity estimate | $99 | Finding DNA matches, though database coverage of Pacific Islander populations specifically is comparatively limited |
Our take
Because this category is less consistently covered across providers, MyHeritage's Ancient Origins stands out as one of the few mainstream products with a dedicated, named Polynesian & Pacific Islander ancient-population category rather than folding it into a broader "Pacific" or "Asian" grouping. See what that comparison actually reflects on our Polynesian & Pacific Islander ancestry page. Expect more limited precision here than for more heavily sampled regions, regardless of provider.
What "Polynesian ancestry" actually means in your results
Polynesian ancestry traces to a mixture of Austronesian ancestry (originating near Taiwan) and Papuan-related ancestry, acquired through contact in the Bismarck Archipelago before the wider Pacific expansion. See our full Polynesian & Pacific Islander ancestry guide for the details.
Don't skip the free option
If you've already tested elsewhere, some providers let you upload existing raw DNA data at low or no cost rather than buying a second full kit. See our step-by-step testing guide for how that process generally works.
FAQ
Why is Polynesian ancestry harder to pin down precisely than other categories?
Reference panels for remote Pacific populations have historically been smaller than for more heavily studied world regions, given the practical challenges of sampling geographically dispersed island populations. This affects precision across all providers, not just one.
Does a Polynesian ancestry result also mean I have Denisovan ancestry?
Not necessarily as a package, but Papuan and some other Pacific populations carry among the highest known levels of Denisovan ancestry in the world, so the two can be related. See our Denisovan DNA explainer for details.