From the conquest of La Palma in 1492, Mazo and other rural parts of the island were governed from the town hall in Santa Cruz de la Palma. From 1768, local government in the form of so-called Ayuntamientos and presided by an elected Alcalde (equivalent of Mayor), was in place in Mazo. The municipal government in Mazo became formally independent in 1813. Originally the neighbouring municipality of Fuencaliente de La Palma formed part of the municipality of Mazo, but formed a separate municipality in 1837. Following the revolutionary upheavals of 1868, the first elections to the municipal government under the new electoral system (universal suffrage of males over 25) were held in Mazo in January 1869.