Why didn't the tequesta become a large powerful tribe?

The Tequesta tribe, located in present-day Florida, did not become a large powerful tribe primarily due to their geographic isolation and limited resources. Their territory, characterized by swamps and coastal areas, restricted agricultural development and population growth. Additionally, European colonization and diseases significantly weakened their numbers and social structure, preventing them from consolidating power like other tribes in more resource-rich regions. These factors combined led to their decline and inability to establish a larger, more influential presence.