In the colonial era, the province of Huanta was larger than it is currently, with traditional ties to the central sierra of Peru, and largely indigenous.

The province's capital, also called Huanta, was the site of an ecclesiastical doctrina and the center of a civil administrative district, corregimiento.

It was led by Antonio Abad Huachaca, an illiterate arriero or muleteer, an occupation that brought him into contact with areas outside his home base, since mules were the primary means of hauling freight and trade goods in the colonial era.

A presidential commission overseen by Mario Vargas Llosa sought to uncover the truth about the incident and produced a report.

[11] Some of the most important archaeological sites of the province are Inka Raqay (or Allqu Willka), Kunturmarka, Marayniyuq, Mulinuyuq, Pusuquy Pata (or Ch'illiku Pampa) and Tinyaq.