Juan Ponce de León was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who led expeditions from Puerto Rico to the coast of Florida, giving the region its current name. Although the pursuit of a fountain of youth is often cited as the motivating force behind his expedition, recent research shows that such a quest was only associated with his name after his death. In reality, Ponce de León was interested in finding new lands and treasures, and he was encouraged by the Spanish crown to continue searching for new lands in hopes of finding more gold and expanding the Spanish empire. While exploring the Bahamas, he heard of an island called Bimini, where there was a miraculous spring or fountain that could rejuvenate those who drank from it (the Fountain of Youth) . Although the quest for this fabled site might have been a contributing influence to Ponce de León’s explorations, modern scholarship suggests that it was not the primary motive. Ponce de León explored many areas, including the Bahamas and Bimini, for both gold and the mythical fountain, but he never found either.