Popoluca communities are mainly associated with Veracruz and nearby areas of southern Mexico. Many Popoluca languages are connected to the Mixe-Zoquean language grouping, which links them historically and linguistically to other Indigenous peoples of the region.

For learners, the Popoluca help broaden the picture of Indigenous Mexico beyond the most famous groups. They also show the importance of Veracruz as a state with deep Indigenous history, not only as a Gulf port and coastal region.