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.