San Pasqual Pueblo As part of ending the
mission system in Alta California under territorial governor
José Figueroa, Pueblos were created to resettle the displaced Mission Kumeyaay, of which some of the Kumeyaay from
Mission San Diego were allowed to resettle and establish San Pasqual Pueblo in 1835. The pueblo became a flourishing agricultural village under Jose Pedro Panto, the "captain" of the band. Its strategic positioning also served as a barrier against hostile attacks from other bands. They partnered with Mexican ranchers, and protected ranchers from other bands. In 1837, the Pueblo fought against hostile bands and protected Mexican settlers, with a decisive victory over an anti-Christian uprising and capturing its leader, Claudio.
Mexican–American War During the
Mexican–American War, the most Kumeyaay were initially neutral. As American forces approached the San Pasqual, the Kumeyaay of the pueblo evacuated. The Mexicans and the
Californios were victorious over the Americans at the
Battle of San Pasqual. The leader of the Pueblo, Panto, called on the Mexicans to cease hostilities with the Americans so that the Kumeyaay could tend to the wounded Americans, to which provided Panto and the San Pasqual Kumeyaay resupplied the Americans and helped ensure the American capture of the
Pueblo de Los Ángeles and San Diego. Following the Yuma War, many squatters and
homesteaders started pouring into
San Pasqual Valley. Panto sought to mitigate the influx of settlers and worked with local officials to enforce their boundaries, providing Mexican documents supporting their claim to the land. Panto was held in such high esteem, that local White American settlers published an article on the San Diego Herald calling on
Indian Affairs agents to designate Panto as the nominal "Captain General of the Dieguenos", hoping to manipulate the power dynamics among the Kumeyaay leaders. Between 2010 and 2018, the Valley View Casino bought the naming rights to
Pechanga Arena, which was named Valley View Casino Center during that period. ==Government==