The Amigos was formed in 1962 during the celebration of New Mexico’s Golden Anniversary as a state. As a part of the celebration, eighty-five of New Mexico’s leading citizens chartered an aircraft at their own expense and visited Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, New York, and Washington, D.C., to draw attention to New Mexico’s fifty years as a State. As a result of the trip, a permanent organization was formed, a charter as a private corporation obtained and the Governor of New Mexico appointed the Amigos the Official Goodwill Ambassadors for New Mexico. Each year since 1962, except for 1970, the Amigos have chartered an aircraft and made trips to other states, Canada and Mexico to focus attention on New Mexico.