Xoloitzcuintle

The xoloitzcuintle, or xolo, is a dog native to Mexico, known above all for having little or no hair. Its name comes from Nahuatl: Xólotl, the god associated with death and the underworld, and itzcuintli, “dog.” In Mexica belief the xolo guided souls on their journey to Mictlán.

It is one of the oldest dog breeds in the Americas: it appears in Colima ceramic figures some 2,000 years old. Today it is a symbol of Mexican identity, and in 2016 it was declared cultural heritage and a symbol of Mexico City.