More so then any other muscle group in your body, the abs are very genetic.
For instance i have great genes for abs. i had a 6 back when i was 12 without ever doing any ab workouts. and once i started doing some ab work it quickly developed without much work. a friend of mine has done so many crunches in his life its unreall and he still can not get a 6pack (yes he has a low BF%) he is riped in every way except his abs.