During the period of colonial colonization of California, the military played an important role in protecting the new colonist, pueblos and missions. In military terminology ‘Soldados’ and the term ‘light cavalry’ refers to such units that were characterized by speed and maneuverability. This required horses that could take their riders both far and fast. The Soldados were instrumental in the exploration and colonization of California. The cavalry played an important role in the Mexican War, when the Mexicans were defeated and forced to cede an enormous tract of land in the Southwest.