Museum collections reflect nearly 300 years of global species description efforts. To date, over 18,000 freshwater fish species have been described, with a significant proportion originating from Latin American countries. Historically, many of these species were collected during expeditions led by foreign institutions, which exported the specimens and dominated taxonomic research. However, the late 20th century saw the emergence of domestic ichthyological research across Latin America, enabling local scientists to conduct expeditions, carry out taxonomic work, and establish type specimen repositories. In this study, we analyze trends in freshwater fish holotype collections across Latin American countries and assess the impact of national legislation on these patterns. Most holotypes of species described in the 18th and 19th centuries are housed in American and European institutions. However, in recent decades, holotypes of newly described species have largely remained within Latin America, with Brazil hosting the larger fraction of these specimens. National legislation enacted since 1990 has played a key role in increasing holotype retention within the region. Additionally, factors such as national investment in scientific research and the willingness of local institutions to loan specimens to foreign collections may also influence the number of holotypes housed within Latin American institutions.