A small group of twenty orthopaedic arthroplasty surgeons from the Asia-Pacific region met on the Gold Coast of Queensland, in Australia, in 1997 to discuss the need for a scientific body to foster and represent the academic and professional needs of the region. The Asia Pacific Arthroplasty Society – APAS - was born out of that meeting with Wui K Chung the founding chairman. Ray Randle was elected the 1st President of the society and Chit Ranawat honored the society by accepting to be the Patron of the society.

The Delta Foundation, although a separate entity, was created as an additional educational arm of the society.