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The Aiel (pronounced "eye-EEL") inhabit an arid, treeless region on the East side of the Spine of the World which they refer to as the Threefold Land, and which is known to "wetlanders" as the Aiel Waste. They are generally pale-skinned, though heavily tanned, with red or blond hair and blue or green eyes. They are deadly warriors, and follow a system of honor and obligation called ji'e'toh. Parallels have been drawn between them and Frank Herbert's Fremen. Later on in the series the Aiel are revealed to be descendants of the Da'shain Aiel who were followers of the Way of the Leaf that later split to become the Tuatha'an and the Aiel. They refer to themselves, unknown to outsiders, as the "People of the Dragon."

Not much is currently known about the Amayar except that they are a fair skinned people that reside on Tremalking and the surrounding islands, where they are farmers, laborers in the shipyards and ports, and makers of fine glass and porcelain.

The Amayar are followers of the Water Way and generally ignore the world beyond their scattered islands. They believe that this world is only an illusion, a mirrored reflection of belief. Some of their prophecies speak of the great sa'angreal on Tremalking and the "end of illusions."

The Tuatha'an are a wandering people that live in wagons like Gypsies. They follow the pacifist Way of the Leaf and will not attack or kill, or even touch a weapon. They are some of the few people allowed in the Waste by the Aiel, although the Aiel avoid them. The Aiel share the same ancestors as the Tuatha'an, but forsook the Way of the Leaf and took up the spear, as the Tuatha'an gave up the mission entrusted to them by the Aes Sedai.

The most violent thing about the Tuatha'an are their colours. Their wagons are painted in the brightest colours—yellow, green, blue, red, and the colours of their clothing are even brighter. The Tuatha’an are also well known for their singing and dancing. They sing and dance at any opportunity, and Tinker camps are seldom without music. Sometimes the Tinker women will dance the tiganza, a dance capable of bringing mens’ blood to a boil.

The Tuatha'an are continually in search of a song that their ancestors knew, but that is now forgotten. They believe that the song once found will bring a new Age of Legends. It is possible that 'the song' refers to the tree growing song sung by Aiel, Ogier and Nym during planting season in the Age of Legends.

The Tuatha'an are based on the Irish Travellers, also called the Traveling People or Tinkers. Their name is an obvious reference to the Tuatha Dé Danann of Irish mythology.