New Mexico (Spanish, Nuevo México) is one of the two southwestern states of the USA. Over its relatively long history it has been both a province of Mexico, and a US territory. New Mexico holds the distinction of being the state with the highest percentage of people who claim Hispanic ancestry, many of whom are descended from Spanish colonists. It also contains a sizeable Native American population. As a result, the population and culture of the state is unique for its strong Spanish, Mexican, and Native American cultural influences. For a variety of reasons, some people in other parts of the U.S. sometimes mistake it for a part of Mexico. Both English and Spanish are official languages in the state.