diff --git a/options/pin.go b/options/pin.go
index 6b211bb..5014a2d 100644
--- a/options/pin.go
+++ b/options/pin.go
@@ -1,31 +1,49 @@
 package options
 
+import "fmt"
+
+// PinAddSettings represent the settings for PinAPI.Add
 type PinAddSettings struct {
 	Recursive bool
 }
 
+// PinLsSettings represent the settings for PinAPI.Ls
 type PinLsSettings struct {
 	Type string
 }
 
-// PinRmSettings represents the settings of pin rm command
+// PinIsPinnedSettings represent the settings for PinAPI.IsPinned
+type PinIsPinnedSettings struct {
+	WithType string
+}
+
+// PinRmSettings represents the settings for PinAPI.Rm
 type PinRmSettings struct {
 	Recursive bool
 }
 
+// PinUpdateSettings represent the settings for PinAPI.Update
 type PinUpdateSettings struct {
 	Unpin bool
 }
 
+// PinAddOption is the signature of an option for PinAPI.Add
 type PinAddOption func(*PinAddSettings) error
 
-// PinRmOption pin rm option func
+// PinLsOption is the signature of an option for PinAPI.Ls
+type PinLsOption func(*PinLsSettings) error
+
+// PinIsPinnedOption is the signature of an option for PinAPI.IsPinned
+type PinIsPinnedOption func(*PinIsPinnedSettings) error
+
+// PinRmOption is the signature of an option for PinAPI.Rm
 type PinRmOption func(*PinRmSettings) error
 
-// PinLsOption pin ls option func
-type PinLsOption func(*PinLsSettings) error
+// PinUpdateOption is the signature of an option for PinAPI.Update
 type PinUpdateOption func(*PinUpdateSettings) error
 
+// PinAddOptions compile a series of PinAddOption into a ready to use
+// PinAddSettings and set the default values.
 func PinAddOptions(opts ...PinAddOption) (*PinAddSettings, error) {
 	options := &PinAddSettings{
 		Recursive: true,
@@ -41,14 +59,16 @@ func PinAddOptions(opts ...PinAddOption) (*PinAddSettings, error) {
 	return options, nil
 }
 
-// PinRmOptions pin rm options
-func PinRmOptions(opts ...PinRmOption) (*PinRmSettings, error) {
-	options := &PinRmSettings{
-		Recursive: true,
+// PinLsOptions compile a series of PinLsOption into a ready to use
+// PinLsSettings and set the default values.
+func PinLsOptions(opts ...PinLsOption) (*PinLsSettings, error) {
+	options := &PinLsSettings{
+		Type: "all",
 	}
 
 	for _, opt := range opts {
-		if err := opt(options); err != nil {
+		err := opt(options)
+		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
@@ -56,9 +76,11 @@ func PinRmOptions(opts ...PinRmOption) (*PinRmSettings, error) {
 	return options, nil
 }
 
-func PinLsOptions(opts ...PinLsOption) (*PinLsSettings, error) {
-	options := &PinLsSettings{
-		Type: "all",
+// PinIsPinnedOptions compile a series of PinIsPinnedOption into a ready to use
+// PinIsPinnedSettings and set the default values.
+func PinIsPinnedOptions(opts ...PinIsPinnedOption) (*PinIsPinnedSettings, error) {
+	options := &PinIsPinnedSettings{
+		WithType: "all",
 	}
 
 	for _, opt := range opts {
@@ -71,6 +93,24 @@ func PinLsOptions(opts ...PinLsOption) (*PinLsSettings, error) {
 	return options, nil
 }
 
+// PinRmOptions compile a series of PinRmOption into a ready to use
+// PinRmSettings and set the default values.
+func PinRmOptions(opts ...PinRmOption) (*PinRmSettings, error) {
+	options := &PinRmSettings{
+		Recursive: true,
+	}
+
+	for _, opt := range opts {
+		if err := opt(options); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+
+	return options, nil
+}
+
+// PinUpdateOptions compile a series of PinUpdateOption into a ready to use
+// PinUpdateSettings and set the default values.
 func PinUpdateOptions(opts ...PinUpdateOption) (*PinUpdateSettings, error) {
 	options := &PinUpdateSettings{
 		Unpin: true,
@@ -86,36 +126,132 @@ func PinUpdateOptions(opts ...PinUpdateOption) (*PinUpdateSettings, error) {
 	return options, nil
 }
 
-type pinType struct{}
-
 type pinOpts struct {
-	Type pinType
+	Ls       pinLsOpts
+	IsPinned pinIsPinnedOpts
 }
 
+// Pin provide an access to all the options for the Pin API.
 var Pin pinOpts
 
+type pinLsOpts struct{}
+
 // All is an option for Pin.Ls which will make it return all pins. It is
 // the default
-func (pinType) All() PinLsOption {
-	return Pin.pinType("all")
+func (pinLsOpts) All() PinLsOption {
+	return Pin.Ls.pinType("all")
 }
 
 // Recursive is an option for Pin.Ls which will make it only return recursive
 // pins
-func (pinType) Recursive() PinLsOption {
-	return Pin.pinType("recursive")
+func (pinLsOpts) Recursive() PinLsOption {
+	return Pin.Ls.pinType("recursive")
 }
 
 // Direct is an option for Pin.Ls which will make it only return direct (non
 // recursive) pins
-func (pinType) Direct() PinLsOption {
-	return Pin.pinType("direct")
+func (pinLsOpts) Direct() PinLsOption {
+	return Pin.Ls.pinType("direct")
 }
 
 // Indirect is an option for Pin.Ls which will make it only return indirect pins
 // (objects referenced by other recursively pinned objects)
-func (pinType) Indirect() PinLsOption {
-	return Pin.pinType("indirect")
+func (pinLsOpts) Indirect() PinLsOption {
+	return Pin.Ls.pinType("indirect")
+}
+
+// Type is an option for Pin.Ls which will make it only return pins of the given
+// type.
+//
+// Supported values:
+// * "direct" - directly pinned objects
+// * "recursive" - roots of recursive pins
+// * "indirect" - indirectly pinned objects (referenced by recursively pinned
+//    objects)
+// * "all" - all pinned objects (default)
+func (pinLsOpts) Type(typeStr string) (PinLsOption, error) {
+	switch typeStr {
+	case "all", "direct", "indirect", "recursive":
+		return Pin.Ls.pinType(typeStr), nil
+	default:
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid type '%s', must be one of {direct, indirect, recursive, all}", typeStr)
+	}
+}
+
+// pinType is an option for Pin.Ls which allows to specify which pin types should
+// be returned
+//
+// Supported values:
+// * "direct" - directly pinned objects
+// * "recursive" - roots of recursive pins
+// * "indirect" - indirectly pinned objects (referenced by recursively pinned
+//    objects)
+// * "all" - all pinned objects (default)
+func (pinLsOpts) pinType(t string) PinLsOption {
+	return func(settings *PinLsSettings) error {
+		settings.Type = t
+		return nil
+	}
+}
+
+type pinIsPinnedOpts struct{}
+
+// All is an option for Pin.IsPinned which will make it search in all type of pins.
+// It is the default
+func (pinIsPinnedOpts) All() PinIsPinnedOption {
+	return Pin.IsPinned.pinType("all")
+}
+
+// Recursive is an option for Pin.IsPinned which will make it only search in
+// recursive pins
+func (pinIsPinnedOpts) Recursive() PinIsPinnedOption {
+	return Pin.IsPinned.pinType("recursive")
+}
+
+// Direct is an option for Pin.IsPinned which will make it only search in direct
+// (non recursive) pins
+func (pinIsPinnedOpts) Direct() PinIsPinnedOption {
+	return Pin.IsPinned.pinType("direct")
+}
+
+// Indirect is an option for Pin.IsPinned which will make it only search indirect
+// pins (objects referenced by other recursively pinned objects)
+func (pinIsPinnedOpts) Indirect() PinIsPinnedOption {
+	return Pin.IsPinned.pinType("indirect")
+}
+
+// Type is an option for Pin.IsPinned which will make it only search pins of the given
+// type.
+//
+// Supported values:
+// * "direct" - directly pinned objects
+// * "recursive" - roots of recursive pins
+// * "indirect" - indirectly pinned objects (referenced by recursively pinned
+//    objects)
+// * "all" - all pinned objects (default)
+func (pinIsPinnedOpts) Type(typeStr string) (PinIsPinnedOption, error) {
+	switch typeStr {
+	case "all", "direct", "indirect", "recursive":
+		return Pin.IsPinned.pinType(typeStr), nil
+	default:
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid type '%s', must be one of {direct, indirect, recursive, all}", typeStr)
+	}
+}
+
+// pinType is an option for Pin.IsPinned which allows to specify which pin type the given
+// pin is expected to be, speeding up the research.
+//
+// Supported values:
+// * "direct" - directly pinned objects
+// * "recursive" - roots of recursive pins
+// * "indirect" - indirectly pinned objects (referenced by recursively pinned
+//    objects)
+// * "all" - all pinned objects (default)
+func (pinIsPinnedOpts) pinType(t string) PinIsPinnedOption {
+	return func(settings *PinIsPinnedSettings) error {
+		settings.WithType = t
+		return nil
+	}
 }
 
 // Recursive is an option for Pin.Add which specifies whether to pin an entire
@@ -137,22 +273,6 @@ func (pinOpts) RmRecursive(recursive bool) PinRmOption {
 	}
 }
 
-// Type is an option for Pin.Ls which allows to specify which pin types should
-// be returned
-//
-// Supported values:
-// * "direct" - directly pinned objects
-// * "recursive" - roots of recursive pins
-// * "indirect" - indirectly pinned objects (referenced by recursively pinned
-//    objects)
-// * "all" - all pinned objects (default)
-func (pinOpts) pinType(t string) PinLsOption {
-	return func(settings *PinLsSettings) error {
-		settings.Type = t
-		return nil
-	}
-}
-
 // Unpin is an option for Pin.Update which specifies whether to remove the old pin.
 // Default is true.
 func (pinOpts) Unpin(unpin bool) PinUpdateOption {
diff --git a/pin.go b/pin.go
index 27f9355..4c1788c 100644
--- a/pin.go
+++ b/pin.go
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ type PinAPI interface {
 	// Ls returns list of pinned objects on this node
 	Ls(context.Context, ...options.PinLsOption) (<-chan Pin, error)
 
+	// IsPinned returns whether or not the given cid is pinned
+	// and an explanation of why its pinned
+	IsPinned(context.Context, path.Path, ...options.PinIsPinnedOption) (string, bool, error)
+
 	// Rm removes pin for object specified by the path
 	Rm(context.Context, path.Path, ...options.PinRmOption) error
 
diff --git a/tests/pin.go b/tests/pin.go
index 58e8120..476bbea 100644
--- a/tests/pin.go
+++ b/tests/pin.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ func (tp *TestSuite) TestPin(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("TestPinRecursive", tp.TestPinRecursive)
 	t.Run("TestPinLsIndirect", tp.TestPinLsIndirect)
 	t.Run("TestPinLsPrecedence", tp.TestPinLsPrecedence)
+	t.Run("TestPinIsPinned", tp.TestPinIsPinned)
 }
 
 func (tp *TestSuite) TestPinAdd(t *testing.T) {
@@ -84,6 +85,8 @@ func (tp *TestSuite) TestPinSimple(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error("unexpected pin type")
 	}
 
+	assertIsPinned(t, ctx, api, p, "recursive")
+
 	err = api.Pin().Rm(ctx, p)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
@@ -150,7 +153,7 @@ func (tp *TestSuite) TestPinRecursive(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected pin list len: %d", len(list))
 	}
 
-	list, err = accPins(api.Pin().Ls(ctx, opt.Pin.Type.Direct()))
+	list, err = accPins(api.Pin().Ls(ctx, opt.Pin.Ls.Direct()))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -163,7 +166,7 @@ func (tp *TestSuite) TestPinRecursive(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected path, %s != %s", list[0].Path().String(), path.IpfsPath(nd3.Cid()).String())
 	}
 
-	list, err = accPins(api.Pin().Ls(ctx, opt.Pin.Type.Recursive()))
+	list, err = accPins(api.Pin().Ls(ctx, opt.Pin.Ls.Recursive()))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -176,7 +179,7 @@ func (tp *TestSuite) TestPinRecursive(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected path, %s != %s", list[0].Path().String(), path.IpldPath(nd2.Cid()).String())
 	}
 
-	list, err = accPins(api.Pin().Ls(ctx, opt.Pin.Type.Indirect()))
+	list, err = accPins(api.Pin().Ls(ctx, opt.Pin.Ls.Indirect()))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -360,6 +363,39 @@ func (tp *TestSuite) TestPinLsPrecedenceRecursiveDirect(t *testing.T) {
 	assertPinTypes(t, ctx, api, []cidContainer{grandparent, parent}, []cidContainer{}, []cidContainer{leaf})
 }
 
+func (tp *TestSuite) TestPinIsPinned(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+	api, err := tp.makeAPI(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	leaf, parent, grandparent := getThreeChainedNodes(t, ctx, api, "foofoo")
+
+	assertNotPinned(t, ctx, api, path.IpldPath(grandparent.Cid()))
+	assertNotPinned(t, ctx, api, path.IpldPath(parent.Cid()))
+	assertNotPinned(t, ctx, api, path.IpldPath(leaf.Cid()))
+
+	err = api.Pin().Add(ctx, path.IpldPath(parent.Cid()), opt.Pin.Recursive(true))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	assertNotPinned(t, ctx, api, path.IpldPath(grandparent.Cid()))
+	assertIsPinned(t, ctx, api, path.IpldPath(parent.Cid()), "recursive")
+	assertIsPinned(t, ctx, api, path.IpldPath(leaf.Cid()), "indirect")
+
+	err = api.Pin().Add(ctx, path.IpldPath(grandparent.Cid()), opt.Pin.Recursive(false))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	assertIsPinned(t, ctx, api, path.IpldPath(grandparent.Cid()), "direct")
+	assertIsPinned(t, ctx, api, path.IpldPath(parent.Cid()), "recursive")
+	assertIsPinned(t, ctx, api, path.IpldPath(leaf.Cid()), "indirect")
+}
+
 type cidContainer interface {
 	Cid() cid.Cid
 }
@@ -390,21 +426,21 @@ func getThreeChainedNodes(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, api iface.CoreAPI,
 func assertPinTypes(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, api iface.CoreAPI, recusive, direct, indirect []cidContainer) {
 	assertPinLsAllConsistency(t, ctx, api)
 
-	list, err := accPins(api.Pin().Ls(ctx, opt.Pin.Type.Recursive()))
+	list, err := accPins(api.Pin().Ls(ctx, opt.Pin.Ls.Recursive()))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
 	assertPinCids(t, list, recusive...)
 
-	list, err = accPins(api.Pin().Ls(ctx, opt.Pin.Type.Direct()))
+	list, err = accPins(api.Pin().Ls(ctx, opt.Pin.Ls.Direct()))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
 	assertPinCids(t, list, direct...)
 
-	list, err = accPins(api.Pin().Ls(ctx, opt.Pin.Type.Indirect()))
+	list, err = accPins(api.Pin().Ls(ctx, opt.Pin.Ls.Indirect()))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -466,9 +502,9 @@ func assertPinLsAllConsistency(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, api iface.Core
 
 	all, recursive, direct, indirect := cid.NewSet(), cid.NewSet(), cid.NewSet(), cid.NewSet()
 	typeMap := map[string]*pinTypeProps{
-		"recursive": {recursive, opt.Pin.Type.Recursive()},
-		"direct":    {direct, opt.Pin.Type.Direct()},
-		"indirect":  {indirect, opt.Pin.Type.Indirect()},
+		"recursive": {recursive, opt.Pin.Ls.Recursive()},
+		"direct":    {direct, opt.Pin.Ls.Direct()},
+		"indirect":  {indirect, opt.Pin.Ls.Indirect()},
 	}
 
 	for _, p := range allPins {
@@ -506,6 +542,47 @@ func assertPinLsAllConsistency(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, api iface.Core
 	}
 }
 
+func assertIsPinned(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, api iface.CoreAPI, p path.Path, typeStr string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	withType, err := opt.Pin.IsPinned.Type(typeStr)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal("unhandled pin type")
+	}
+
+	whyPinned, pinned, err := api.Pin().IsPinned(ctx, p, withType)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	if !pinned {
+		t.Fatalf("%s expected to be pinned with type %s", p, typeStr)
+	}
+
+	switch typeStr {
+	case "recursive", "direct":
+		if typeStr != whyPinned {
+			t.Fatalf("reason for pinning expected to be %s for %s, got %s", typeStr, p, whyPinned)
+		}
+	case "indirect":
+		if whyPinned == "" {
+			t.Fatalf("expected to have a pin reason for %s", p)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func assertNotPinned(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, api iface.CoreAPI, p path.Path) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	_, pinned, err := api.Pin().IsPinned(ctx, p)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	if pinned {
+		t.Fatalf("%s expected to not be pinned", p)
+	}
+}
+
 func accPins(pins <-chan iface.Pin, err error) ([]iface.Pin, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err