America has an unlikely breed as its new national dog champion.

For the first time in at least two decades, a pug was named best in show at the 92nd annual National Dog Show presented by Purina.

The pug named Vito is the No. 1 pug in all show systems and the No. 2 toy dog ​​in the U.S., according to a news release. He was named Best of Breed at this year’s Westminster Dog Show in New York City and Best of Breed at the AKC National Show last year.

In total, Vito has achieved 25 best-in-shows despite being just 2½ years old, said his co-owner Carolyn Koch of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

“I’m so proud of him,” Koch (pronounced Cook) said in an interview. She called pugs “her breed” and said she was thrilled that Vito was finding favor in the show dog world.

National Dog Show participants were judged on their overall appearance, temperament and structure according to the official standards of their breeds.

“Compactness, features, movement – ​​everything a pug should be,” Best in Show judge George Milutinovich said in a press release. Vito was chosen ahead of a top Welsh Terrier, a Giant Schnauzer, a Clumber Spaniel, a Lhasa Apso, a Berger Picard and an Ibiza Hound.

“I’ve never seen him before. Wow. Just wow. A lot of dog in a small package,” Milutinovich said. “Looking at a pug is putting a smile on your face.”

“I was optimistic,” Vito’s handler, Michael Scott of Chesapeake City, Maryland, said in a news release. “I always hope to get a really good look (from the judge). …Vito has a beautiful head and expression. Great outline.”

Vito earned Koch and co-owners Joy Barbieri and Rebecca Movall of Stanfordville, New York, a $2,000 prize.

The reserve best of the show (second place) went to a Welsh terrier named Verde and handler Gabriel Rangel of Rialto, California.

About 2,000 dogs gathered at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center for this year’s exhibition, which has been held annually since 1933 and was first held in 1879.

The National Dog Show is a purebred exhibition conducted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and sanctioned by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Any AKC registered dog can participate.

Last year’s winner was a Sealyham terrier named Stache.

Every National Dog Show from 2013 to 2023 is available to stream on Peacock. NBC and Peacock are owned by NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC News.

CORRECTION (November 28, 2024, 7:30 p.m. ET): An earlier version of this article misstated the prize money won by Vito’s co-owners. It’s $2,000, not $20,000, which is the total prize money awarded at the show.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com