A fact unrealized by many is that the great cowboy phenomena of the American West began in New Mexico more than four centuries ago when Spanish explorers and colonizers brought the first cattle and horses to the region in the late 1500s. The ensuing centuries saw the vaquero (cowboy) ranching lifestyle absorbed into the various Native American cultures and continued by Anglo settlers who came in masses after the American takeover in the mid-1800s.

The faces of the many authentic cowboys working in New Mexico today still strongly represent this historical mix of westerners, who often don't quite manifest into the popular Hollywood image of the American icon.

People travel to New Mexico from all over the globe and if there's anything they expect to see here, it's cowboys - and Indians, of course. But what they don't expect to see are Indians that are cowboys, or Hispanics or African Americans or women or anyone e

The problem with the Indians is that they are more orientated to the present than to the future. The present is certain to the Indians and the future is not. Anglos are preoccupied with the future. Indians and Hispanics tend to rely on the extended family for the future. The Indians and Hispanics are more oriented to the group than the individual, with stress being placed on the extended family and upon friends.

About 6% of New Mexico’s population is Indian, but culturally and economically the Indians are significant to the state. There are many reasons for the decline in the Indian population in New Mexico. Local Indians have intermarried with Hispanics or migrated in search of employment. Another factor in the decline of the percentage of Indians in New Mexico over the years is the increase in the Anglo population in New Mexico.

That's also the beauty of New Mexico.

No doubt today's cowboys aren't in it for the cash - otherwise, they'd probably starve. Sure, they'd love to make a comfortable living, doing what they enjoy most. Who wouldn't? Nowadays, however, there are a lot of things working against the cowboy that weren't issues in the past - from economics to environmentalism to land development.

Some topics in this essay:
Indians Mexico, Mexico Diverse, Billy Kid, Mexico Indians, Native American, Cowboys Cowgirls, West Mexico, Spanish Crown, Indians Hispanics, Río Grande, indians mexico, mexico indians, future indians, indians hispanics, future indians hispanics, population mexico, economic growth, local indians, cattle horses, extended family, growth mexico,