Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York took aim at Secretary of State Marco Rubio over the weekend, attempting to ridicule him for stating a historical fact: that Spanish explorers brought horses to Mexico.
Rubio made the remarks during a speech at the Munich Security Conference, where he emphasized the deep cultural ties between the United States and Europe. In highlighting America’s historical roots, Rubio noted that the U.S. would “always be a child of Europe,” referencing Christopher Columbus’ voyage to the New World, the establishment of the first English colonies, and the Spanish influence on what would later become modern cowboy culture.
Ocasio-Cortez, speaking at a TEDx event hosted by the Technical University of Berlin, dismissed Rubio’s comments as an appeal to “western culture.” She singled out his remarks about American cowboys tracing their origins to Spain, suggesting that Mexicans and descendants of African enslaved peoples would disagree with his assertion that horses, ranches and rodeos were introduced by Spanish settlers.
“My favorite part was when [he said] that American cowboys came from Spain,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “And I believe the Mexicans and descendants of African enslaved peoples would like to have a word on that.”
However, historical records show that horses were, in fact, brought to Mexico by Spanish explorers. According to Galicenos of Sawannee Horse Ranch, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés arrived in Mexico in April 1519 with 16 horses during his invasion of the Aztec Empire. After establishing a settlement and conquering the Aztecs, additional horses were imported to the region.
The Spanish went on to establish breeding farms, expanding the horse population across the region. Archaeology Magazine notes that settlers significantly increased the number of horses and cattle in what is now Mexico and the American Southwest. Indigenous groups later acquired horses through alliances, trade, theft, and capture, incorporating them into transportation and labor practices.
The broader cowboy tradition in the Americas also traces back to Spanish influence. According to History.com, Spanish settlers trained indigenous populations to manage cattle on horseback, laying the groundwork for ranching traditions in places such as Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. The techniques and cultural elements that became synonymous with the American West — from ranching to rodeos — have roots in Spain.
Rubio’s speech in Munich was not solely about cowboy history. He used the occasion to celebrate the shared cultural heritage between Europe and the United States. He pointed to English settlers who built the first American colonies and helped shape the nation’s language, political system and legal framework. He credited Scots-Irish immigrants for influencing the frontier spirit and cited figures such as Davy Crockett, Mark Twain, Teddy Roosevelt and Neil Armstrong as part of that legacy.
Rubio also highlighted the role of German farmers and craftsmen in transforming the Midwest into a global agricultural powerhouse, as well as the impact of French fur traders and explorers whose names still appear across the Mississippi Valley.
“Our horses, our ranches, our rodeos — the entire romance of the cowboy archetype that became synonymous with the American West — these were born in Spain,” Rubio said.
While Ocasio-Cortez sought to cast doubt on that claim, historical documentation supports Rubio’s statement. The record shows that Spanish explorers introduced horses to Mexico in the early 16th century — a pivotal development that helped shape the culture of the American West for centuries to come.
