- Discovery of Puerto Rico: In 1508, Ponce de León became the first European to set foot on the island of Puerto Rico, on the behalf of Spain. He named the island "San Juan Bautista" after Saint John the Baptist.
- Exploration of Florida: In 1513, Ponce de León led an expedition to Florida. He was searching for a legendary island called Bimini, which was believed to have a fountain that granted eternal youth. Although he didn't find the fountain of youth, he did discover and claim the peninsula for Spain, naming it "La Florida."
- First European encounter with the Gulf Stream: During his exploration of Florida, Ponce de León also encountered and documented the Gulf Stream, a powerful ocean current that flows north along the coast of the southeastern United States. This was the first recorded encounter of the Gulf Stream by Europeans.
- Exploration of the Southeastern Coast: Following his initial discovery of Florida, Ponce de León continued exploring the southeastern coast of North America in subsequent expeditions. He reached as far as the coast of present-day South Carolina and Georgia, further claiming land for Spain.