Juan de Zaldívar (c. 1570–1598) was a Spanish soldier and explorer. He was an early colonizer of New Mexico. He was killed by Native Americans.

Juan de Zaldívar was born circa 1570 in Northern Mexico.^[1] His father, Vicente de Zaldívar Sr., served in the Mixtón War of 1540-1542 alongside his uncle (thus Juan's great-uncle), Cristóbal de Oñate.^[2] His mother was Magdalena de Mendoza y Salazar.^[1] He had a brother, Vicente de Zaldívar.^[1] Juan de Oñate was their uncle and second cousin.^[1][3]

In 1595, Zaldívar was asked by his uncle, Juan de Oñate, to serve as his Maestre de Campo, or field marshal,^[3] in Oñate's colonization of New Mexico for the Spanish Crown.^[1] They departed from Santa Bárbara, Chihuahua in January 1598, arriving in Ciudad Juárez by April of the same year.^[1] They went up the Rio Grande, arriving in San Juan de los Caballeros (now known as Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico) on July 11, 1598.^[1]

Zaldívar was killed by Acoma in Acoma Pueblo on December 4, 1598.^[1][2] His brother, Vicente de Zaldívar, won the Acoma Massacre, partly to avenge his death.^[1] Foot amputation and enslavement of the culprits (Native Americans) has been claimed.^[3]