Pala is a small, mostly Native American community and census-designated place located within the Pala Indian Reservation in San Diego County, California. As of the 2020 census, Pala had a population of 1,490. For centuries it was a traditional gathering place of Native peoples. The Mission San Antonio de Pala or Pala Mission was established in Pala by early 19th century as an asistencia or sub-mission.