Aillarehue acted as a unit only on special festive, religious, political and especial military occasions.
Several aillarehues formed the Butalmapu, the largest military and political organization of the Mapuche.
Although aillarehue ment "nine altars" these confederations did not necessarily conform to this number of rehues.
The name of many of these aillarehue confederations have remained in the present toponymy of the southern regions of Chile.
Although it is known the Picunche had many aillarehues in the central zone of Chile, like those of Codegua, Vichuquén and Rapel most of their names are unknown.