New Mexico is a state in the southwestern United States. At one point it was a province of Mexico, and thus New Mexico is 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, New Mexico has a unique culture with strong Mexican and Native American 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; its Spanish name is Nuevo México.