Series and Index [Domain]
EuroPacific Growth Fund MSCI All Country [Member] Lipper [Member] MSCI EAFE [Member]
Share Class [Domain] Share Class [Domain] Share Class [Domain] Share Class [Domain]
All Instruments group_C000026337C000026338C000026339C000026340C000026341 group_C000026336C000026341
Class A Class B Class C Class F Class 529-A Class 529-B Class 529-C Class 529-E Class 529-F
Prospectus [Line Items]
Risk Return [Abstract]
Risk Return [Heading] Risk/Return summary
Objective Section [Abstract]
Objective Primary [Text Block] The fund seeks to make your investment grow over time by investing primarily in stocks of issuers located in Europe and the Pacific Basin.
Expenses [Abstract]
Expense [Heading] Fees and expenses of the fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block] These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.
Shareholder Fees [Abstract]
Shareholder Fees Caption 2 3 SHAREHOLDER FEES (PAID DIRECTLY FROM YOUR INVESTMENT)
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases over Offering Price 5.75%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge over Offering Price 0% 0% 0% 0%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge over Other 0% 5% 1% 0% 0%
Maximum Sales Charge on Reinvested Dividends and Distributions over Other 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Redemption Fee over Redemption 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Operating Expenses Caption ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (DEDUCTED FROM FUND ASSETS)
Net Expenses over Assets [Abstract]
Expenses over Assets [Abstract]
Management Fees over Assets 0.43% 0.43% 0.43% 0.43% 0.43% 0.43% 0.43% 0.43% 0.43%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees over Assets 0.25% 1% 1% 0.25% 0.18% 1% 1% 0.5%
Other Expenses over Assets [Abstract]
Other Expenses over Assets 0.11% 0.11% 0.19% 0.14% 0.22% 0.24% 0.24% 0.22% 0.22%
Expenses over Assets 0.79% 1.54% 1.62% 0.82% 0.83% 1.67% 1.67% 1.15% 0.65%
Expense Example Narrative [Abstract]
Expense Example [Heading] EXAMPLES
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] The examples below are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The examples assume that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated, that your investment has a 5% return each year, that all dividends and capital gain distributions are reinvested, and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same as shown above. The examples do not reflect the impact of any fee waivers or expense reimbursements. The examples assuming redemption do not reflect the effect of any taxable gain or loss at the time of the redemption. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your cumulative estimated expenses would be:
Expense Example by Year Caption Class A Class B -- assuming redemption Class C -- assuming redemption Class F -- excluding intermediary fees Class 529-A Class 529-B -- assuming redemption Class 529-C -- assuming redemption Class 529-E Class 529-F -- excluding intermediary fees
Expense Example [Abstract]
Expense Example Year 01 651 657 265 84 675 690 290 137 86
Expense Example Year 03 813 886 511 262 864 965 565 404 248
Expense Example Year 05 989 1,039 881 455 1,067 1,164 964 691 421
Expense Example Year 10 1,497 1,632 1,922 1,014 1,646 1,853 2,075 1,500 916
Expense Example No Redemption by Year Caption Class B -- assuming no redemption Class C -- assuming no redemption Class 529-B -- assuming no redemption Class 529-C -- assuming no redemption
Expense Example No Redemption Year 01 157 165 190 190
Expense Example No Redemption Year 03 486 511 565 565
Expense Example No Redemption Year 05 839 881 964 964
Expense Example No Redemption Year 10 1,632 1,922 1,853 2,075
Strategy Section [Abstract]
Strategy [Heading] Investment objective, strategies and risks
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] The fund's investment objective is to provide you with long-term growth of capital. Normally, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in securities of issuers located in Europe and the Pacific Basin. This policy is subject to change only upon 60 days' notice to shareholders. Various factors will be considered when determining whether a country is part of Europe, including whether a country is part of the MSCI European indexes. A country will be considered part of the Pacific Basin if any of its borders touch the Pacific Ocean.
The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively valued companies that, in its opinion, represent above-average long-term investment opportunities. The investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is through fundamental analysis, which may include meeting with company executives and employees, suppliers, customers and competitors.

Securities may be sold when the investment adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive investment opportunities.
Risk Section [Abstract]
Risk Lose Money YOU MAY LOSE MONEY BY INVESTING IN THE FUND. THE LIKELIHOOD OF LOSS MAY BE GREATER IF YOU INVEST FOR A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, entity or person.
Risk Narrative [Text Block] The fund is designed for investors seeking capital appreciation and diversification through investments in stocks of issuers based outside the United States. Investors in the fund should have a long-term perspective and be able to tolerate potentially wide price fluctuations. Your investment in the fund is subject to risks, including the possibility that the value of the fund's portfolio holdings will fluctuate in response to events specific to the companies or markets in which the fund invests, as well as economic, political or social events in the United States or abroad, and currency fluctuations.
Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, entity or person.
YOU MAY LOSE MONEY BY INVESTING IN THE FUND. THE LIKELIHOOD OF LOSS MAY BE GREATER IF YOU INVEST FOR A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME.
The prices of securities held by the fund may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the fund; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations. The growth-oriented, equity-type securities generally purchased by the fund may involve large price swings and potential for loss.
Investments in securities issued by entities based outside the United States may also be affected by currency controls; different accounting, auditing, financial reporting, and legal standards and practices in some countries; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; differing securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment of dividends. These risks may be heightened in connection with investments in developing countries.
The fund may also hold cash, money market instruments and fixed-income securities. The percentage of the fund invested in such holdings varies and depends on various factors, including market conditions and purchases and redemptions of fund shares. A larger percentage of such holdings could moderate the fund's investment results in a period of rising market prices.
A larger percentage of cash, money market instruments and fixed-income securities could reduce the magnitude of the fund's loss in a period of falling market prices and provide liquidity to make additional investments or to meet redemptions.
Bar Chart and Performance Table Section [Abstract]
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] HISTORICAL INVESTMENT RESULTS
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns The bar chart below shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the Investment Results table on page 4 shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market performance.
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future Past results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future results.
Performance Narrative [Text Block] The bar chart below shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the Investment Results table on page 4 shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market performance.
This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund.
All fund results reflect the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions, if any. Unless otherwise noted, fund results reflect any fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements in effect during the period presented.
Past results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future results.
Bar Chart Narrative [Abstract]
Bar Chart [Heading] CALENDAR YEAR TOTAL RETURNS FOR CLASS A SHARES
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block] (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)
Bar Chart Table [Abstract]
Annual Return 1997 9.19%
Annual Return 1998 15.54%
Annual Return 1999 56.97%
Annual Return 2000 (17.84%)
Annual Return 2001 (12.18%)
Annual Return 2002 (13.61%)
Annual Return 2003 32.91%
Annual Return 2004 19.69%
Annual Return 2005 21.12%
Annual Return 2006 21.87%
Bar Chart Closing [Abstract]
Year to Date Return Label fund's total return for the three months ended
Bar Chart Year to Date Return 2.92%
Bar Chart Year to Date Return Date 2007-03-31
Highest Quarterly Return Label HIGHEST
Bar Chart Highest Quarterly Return 29.09%
Bar Chart Highest Quarterly Return Date 1999-12-31
Lowest Quarterly Return Label LOWEST
Bar Chart Lowest Quarterly Return (17.58%)
Bar Chart Lowest Quarterly Return Date 2002-09-30
Performance Narrative [Abstract]
Performance Table Does Reflect Sales Loads Unlike the bar chart on the previous page, the Investment Results table on the following page reflects, as required by Securities and Exchange Commission rules, the fund's investment results with the following maximum initial or contingent deferred sales charges imposed:
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred YOUR ACTUAL AFTER-TAX RETURNS DEPEND ON YOUR INDIVIDUAL TAX SITUATION AND LIKELY WILL DIFFER FROM THE RESULTS SHOWN BELOW. IN ADDITION, AFTER-TAX RETURNS MAY NOT BE RELEVANT IF YOU HOLD YOUR FUND SHARES THROUGH A TAX-DEFERRED ARRANGEMENT, SUCH AS A 401(K) PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT (IRA) OR 529 COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary.
Performance Table Narrative [Text Block] Unlike the bar chart on the previous page, the Investment Results table on the following page reflects, as required by Securities and Exchange Commission rules, the fund's investment results with the following maximum initial or contingent deferred sales charges imposed:
* Class A share results reflect the maximum initial sales charge of 5.75
* This charge is reduced for purchases of $25,000 or more and eliminated for purchases of $1 million or more.
* Class B share results reflect the applicable contingent deferred sales charge. For example, results for the one-year period shown reflect a contingent deferred sales charge of 5
* These charges begin to decline one year after purchase and are eliminated six years after purchase.
* Class C share results for the one-year period shown reflect a contingent deferred sales charge of 1%, which only applies if shares are sold within one year of purchase.
* Class 529-E and Class F shares are sold without any initial or contingent deferred sales charge.
Results would be higher if calculated without sales charges. The references above to Class A, B, C or F sales charges also refer to the corresponding Class 529-A, 529-B, 529-C or 529-F sales charges.
The Investment Results table shows the fund's results on both a pretax and after-tax basis, as required by Securities and Exchange Commission rules.
After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary.
Total returns shown "after taxes on distributions" reflect the effect of taxes on distributions (for example, dividends or capital gain distributions) by the fund. Total returns shown "after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares" assume that you sold your fund shares at the end of the particular time period and, as a result, reflect the effect of both taxes on distributions by the fund and taxes on any gain or loss realized upon the sale of the shares.
After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
YOUR ACTUAL AFTER-TAX RETURNS DEPEND ON YOUR INDIVIDUAL TAX SITUATION AND LIKELY WILL DIFFER FROM THE RESULTS SHOWN BELOW. IN ADDITION, AFTER-TAX RETURNS MAY NOT BE RELEVANT IF YOU HOLD YOUR FUND SHARES THROUGH A TAX-DEFERRED ARRANGEMENT, SUCH AS A 401(K) PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT (IRA) OR 529 COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN.
Average Annual Return Caption CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C CLASS F CLASS 529-A CLASS 529-B CLASS 529-C CLASS 529-E CLASS 529-F INVESTMENT RESULTS (WITH MAXIMUM SALES CHARGES)
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006:
Performance Table Section [Abstract]
Average Annual Return Column Name
Average Annual Return [Abstract]
Average Annual Return Label Before taxes Before taxes Before taxes Before taxes Before taxes Before taxes Before taxes Before taxes Before taxes
Average Annual Return Year 01 14.86% 15.97% 19.9% 21.84% 14.83% 15.81% 19.83% 21.46% 22.06%
Average Annual Return Year 05 13.84% 14.1% 14.24% 15.14%
Average Annual Return Year 10 10.57%
Average Annual Return Since Inception 13.8% 4.82% 11.01% 11.9% 14.92% 15.55% 15.32% 14.9% 22.62%
Average Annual Return Inception Date 1984-04-16 2000-03-15 2001-03-15 2001-03-15 2002-02-15 2002-02-19 2002-02-15 2002-03-07 2002-09-16
Average Annual Return after Taxes on Distributions [Abstract]
Average Annual Return after Taxes on Distributions Label After taxes on distributions
Average Annual Return after Taxes on Distributions Year 01 13.38%
Average Annual Return after Taxes on Distributions Year 05 13.35%
Average Annual Return after Taxes on Distributions Year 10 9.49%
Average Annual Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sales [Abstract]
Average Annual Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sales Label After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares
Average Annual Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sales Year 01 10.98%
Average Annual Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sales Year 05 12.11%
Average Annual Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sales Year 10 8.89%
Market Index Return [Abstract]
Market Index Return Label MSCI All Country World Index ex-USA Lipper International Funds Average MSCI EAFE Index
Market Index Return Year 01 27.16% 24.84% 26.86%
Market Index Return Year 05 16.87% 14.11% 15.43%
Market Index Return Year 10 8.59% 8.47% 8.06%
Market Index Return Since Inception 11.66% 11.81%
Performance Table Closing [Abstract]
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] Performance Table Does Reflect Sales Loads Unlike the bar chart on the previous page, the Investment Results table on the following page reflects, as required by Securities and Exchange Commission rules, the fund's investment results with the following maximum initial or contingent deferred sales charges imposed:
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred YOUR ACTUAL AFTER-TAX RETURNS DEPEND ON YOUR INDIVIDUAL TAX SITUATION AND LIKELY WILL DIFFER FROM THE RESULTS SHOWN BELOW. IN ADDITION, AFTER-TAX RETURNS MAY NOT BE RELEVANT IF YOU HOLD YOUR FUND SHARES THROUGH A TAX-DEFERRED ARRANGEMENT, SUCH AS A 401(K) PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT (IRA) OR 529 COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary.