The Mixtec , or Mixtecos, are indigenous Meso-American peoples of Mexico inhabiting the region known as La Mixteca of Oaxaca and Puebla, as well as the state of Guerrero's Región Montañas, and Región Costa Chica, which covers parts of the Mexican states of Oaxaca, Guerrero and Puebla. The Mixtec region and the Mixtec peoples are traditionally divided into three groups, two based on their original economic cast and the third on the region they settled. High Mixtecs or mixteco alto were of the upper class and generally more well-to-do, the Low Mixtecs or "mixteco bajo" were generally poorer. In recent times, an economic reversal or equalizing has been seen. The third group is Coastal Mixtecs "mixteco de la costa". This group's language is closely related to that of the Low Mixtecs, and are currently inhabiting the Pacific slope of Oaxaca and Guerrero. The Mixtec languages form a major branch of the Otomanguean language family.