What dog is native to Mexico?

The Xoloitzcuintle, often called the Mexican hairless dog, is an ancient breed that has existed in Mexico since pre-Hispanic times. Its name comes from Nahuatl and is linked to Xólotl, the god of lightning and death, and itzcuintli, meaning dog.

In Mexica belief, these dogs guided the souls of the dead to Mictlán, the underworld. The breed appears in pre-Hispanic art and was a beloved companion of the painters Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.