The first provincial governor of Puerto Rico

In March 1513, he set out on a privately funded voyage from Puerto Rico, and in April of the same year, he made landfall in Florida near the present-day cities of Melbourne Beach and Saint Augustine. He thought he had landed on an island at the time and was unaware that he was actually on the North American mainland. The Spanish Empire occupied Puerto Rico when the island was discovered. Then Juan Ponce was appointed the island's first independent provincial governor.

The governor of Puerto Rico would be chosen by the Spanish Monarchy, and they would be tasked with increasing the island's wealth and informing the Spanish government of the colony's condition.

Ponce learned about the rich area with hidden gold and silver treasure from the Tainos while he was the provincial governor. After receiving approval from Ovando, the island's first royal governor and the military commander, he began exploring the island.

After serving as governor of Puerto Rico for three years, Juan Ponce was succeeded by Christopher Columbus's son. His dismissal was a result of his mistreatment of the Native Americans.