1. A method comprising: collecting, by executing an instruction with a processor, performance data representative of dynamic performance of border elements in a voice over Internet protocol network, the border elements including respective performance monitors; reducing, by executing an instruction with the processor, a processing load of a first peered border element based on the collected performance data by prioritizing selection of a second peered border element from the respective ones of the border elements over selection of the first peered border element; and modifying, by executing an instruction with the processor, a telephone number mapping database to reflect the priority of the second peered border element over the first peered border element.