In 500 BC, the Maya and Aztec economies began to incorporate pigs, although true pigs were introduced later. The indigenous peoples managed peccary relatives, which were similar to pigs, as a source of meat. This early integration of swine into their economies illustrates the adaptability of these cultures and their evolving agricultural practices.

Pigs in Maya and Aztec economies around 500 BC influenced Mesoamerican mythic poetry, linking animals to cosmology and agriculture. Poets like Nezahualcoyotl incorporated these themes, reflecting the cultural significance of animals in their societies and their roles in the spiritual and material worlds.