The term "caballero" originated from the Latin caballarius (groom or rider), and has been in use in Spain since ancient times to mean horseman and gentlemen; After being hunted to extinction in North America 11,000 years ago, horses were reintroduced by Spanish conquistadors and settlers in the 15th and 16th centuries, beginning with Christopher Columbus; Then Mexicans speak Latin, 'cause they're south of the equator!