Pohoy

The Pohoy Indians, also referred to as Pooy or Posoy, were associated with the Timucuan division of the Muskhogean linguistic stock and inhabited the southern shore of Tampa Bay. First documented in 1539 during Hernando de Soto’s expedition as Oçita, they were later mentioned as Pohoy in 1612. By 1680, their population was recorded at around 300. The tribe suffered significant decline due to epidemics and was involved in a mission south of St. Augustine before returning to their territory by 1728.