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Why is a standoff between three parties that are all enemies of each other called a 'Mexican standoff'?

What is so 'Mexican' about it?

Mexican standoff: noun, (Informal: Sometimes Offensive.)

• a stalemate or impasse; a confrontation that neither side can win.

Usage note

• This expression is sometimes perceived as insulting to or by Mexicans. Its origin in the late 19th century may be connected to American perceptions of encounters with Mexican bandits of that era.

(Dictionary.com)

The origin, according to the following source the expression is just one of the many along the line of similar AmE slang expressions that use the term Mexican as a slur:

• Several sources I have found suggest that the “Mexican” modifier in the phrase refers to a supposed proclivity of 19th century Mexican “bandits” for running away from a fair fight. But the first example of “Mexican standoff” found so far in print used the phrase to describe a baseball game ending in a tie, and subsequent uses employ the term as a simple synonym of “stalemate” with nary an actual Mexican in sight.




• The “Mexican” in “Mexican standoff” is thus almost certainly just another entry in the long and shameful roster of US slang terms employing “Mexican” as a slur meaning “fraudulent, inferior, or marked by poverty, poor sanitation, lack of sophistication or ignorance.”




• Such formations as “Mexican bankroll” (one large denomination bill wrapped around a roll of smaller bills), “Mexican athlete” (a phony braggart) and “Mexican breakfast” (a cigarette and a glass of water) all reflect the same derogatory national rivalry. A “Mexican standoff,” in this light, is called “Mexican” because it is pointless, inconclusive and unproductive, not because it has any actual connection to Mexico.

(The Word Detective)

Early usage examples:

1876 March 19, F. Harvey Smith, “Mexican Stand-Off”, in Sunday Mercury, New York, page 2/col. 5:

• “Go-!” said he sternly then. “We will call it a stand-off, a Mexican stand-off, you lose your money, but you save your life!”

1891 September, N.Y. Sporting Times, volume 19, page 4/col. 3:

• ‘Monk’ Cline, who got a Mexican stand-off from Dave Rowe has signed with Louisville.

(Wiktionary)

I am from Northern Mexico and it's called Mexican standoff because Bandidos and Vaqueros have been doing it even before America was even a country. We later taught the cowboys how to do it.

In Mexico these standoff were common among the bandits, Vaqueros, charros, chinacos and pistoleros. it was a way of settling a problem amongst two or more people. Furthermore, it was a matter of pride, proving their masculinity by demonstrating that victory could be achived without backstabbing, cheating or cawarding away; a fair way that granted both parties the opportunity to stand face-to-face and gamble their life by relying on their speed and agility as well as accuracy with their gun. In the majority of the cases it was between two men that had come to agreement to settle their dispute in this "manly and uncowardly" manner. Unlike in many american movies where everyone had their guns drawn, in el duelo de pistoleros ( "mexican standoff") also know as duelo a la mexicana, punto muerto or tablas mexicanas; both parties stood face to face with their gun in their holster waiting for the right opportunity to draw their gun without allowing their opponent to draw and shot first. In in the United States, this behavior became known as mexican standoff. This wasn't an isolated case as much of the Spanish / Mexican terminally was adopted and evolved as more and more anglo americans moved in to the territories that were acquired from Mexico. Over time, due to the immense discrimination and the dehumanization of the Mexican people (as they were seen inferior), many of the aspects that characterize them as brave or manly were changed or morph giving them a derogatory meaning as a way to dehumanize and further discriminate the Mexicans.