João Pinheiro is a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. It is the largest municipality in that state by area. The process of colonizat…João Pinheiro is a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. It is the largest municipality in that state by area. The process of colonization of the region, now occupied by the city of João Pinheiro began probably in the half of the 18th century, the period preceding the discovery of gold mines in the regions with the movement of inputs and flags bearing the lands of Paracatu.