This wheel arrangement came to be known as the Pacific type after the voyage the completed locomotives had to make across the Pacific Ocean to New Zealand. A few instances of the 4-6-2 wheel arrangement are known to have existed prior to 1901, but these were all reconstructions of locomotives that were originally built with a different wheel arrangement, thereby making the thirteen members of the Q class the first "true" Pacifics in the world.
The wheel arrangement known as the Pacific type was named after its journey across the Pacific Ocean to New Zealand.  Prior to 1901, some examples of this wheel arrangement existed but were reconstructions of locomotives with a different original design. The thirteen members of the Q class are considered the first true Pacifics in the world.