José María Vargas Ponce (10 March 1786, in La Guaira – 13 April 1854, in New York City) was the president of Venezuela from 1835 to 1836. He was elected in the 1834 Venezuelan presidential election, the first free and fair elections in South America. He defeated the candidate supported by incumbent president. Vargas was Venezuela's first civilian president.
He was overthrown in 1835, returned to office, and resigned in 1836 amid pressure.