Historically rooted in western New Mexico, the Zuni had their first contact with the European world in 1539, when the Moorish slave Estebán arrived leading a Spanish exploratory party. The Zuni killed Estebán, but Coronado arrived soon after and quickly conquered the area.

In 1632, the Zuni rebelled against Spanish rule, killing two priests before fleeing for safety, but they returned until the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, when they fled again. With the return of the Spanish in 1692, they quickly submitted to Spanish troops for the protection the Spaniards offered from Apache raiders.
The Zuni are famous for their silver, carvings, necklaces, and pottery. Their pottery generally depicted symbols related to hunting and water, like tadpoles, dragonflies, and frogs. Pieces from before 1930 are especially rare and sought after.