The great cowboy phenomenon of the American West began with the Spanish exploration and settlement of New Mexico more than 400 years ago. Enduring Cowboys explores the advent of the vaquero in sixteenth-century New Mexico and continues through the years to the authentic working cowboy of today. Essays by some of the state's most knowledgeable writers examine many issues confronting the contemporary cowboy, including environmentalism, technology, and economics and the threats they pose to the historically entrenched cowboy lifestyle. Also explored is the romanticization of the cowboy in popular culture. New Mexico cowboys come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds--Native American, Anglo, and African American as well as Hispanic. And some New Mexico 'cowboys' are women. Included in addition to the essays are biographical vignettes accompanied by portraits of individual working cowboys and cowgirls, along with numerous color and historical photographs. The contributors include John Sinclair, J. Michael Miller, Steve Terrell, Joel Bernstein, Steve Larese, Conroy Chino, Cathy Nelson, Jane O'Cain, Kathryn Marmon, and the editor.