The Atlantic Coast and Pacific side of Nicaragua almost seem like two completely different countries. The main reason behind this is that different countries governed both bodies separately. Spain took control of the Pacific side of Nicaragua, completely integrating their blood, language and culture into the land, which had been once inhabited by native tribes. This resulted in a predominant mestizo population, which is a general Spanish term for someone who is a mix between Spanish European and Native American ancestry.
However, the Atlantic Coast took on a completely different fate. In order to fend off the Spanish invaders, the indigenous tribes of the Atlantic Coast formed an alliance with pirates and later with the British, who formed a protectorate over the region until 1894. Another large contributing aspect to the current culture of Atlantic, were the Africans that arrived, who eventually formed an alliance with the indigenous people to fend off the Spaniards.
In 1979, the Sandinista revolution who governed Nicaragua, obtained power over both of the regions and tried to merge the segregated areas under one rule. This only lasted for five years, when due to political choices, the Sandinista government backed an autonomy order, recognizing the rights of indigenous peoples. In 1987, the Statute of Autonomy of the Atlantic Coast was approved, which still stands today. Now, there are three surviving indigenous groups occupying the area, including the Miskitu, Sumu, and Rama, and multi-ethnic communities, including the Creole and Garifunu.