During that time , de Soto was influenced by the achievements of Juan Ponce de León , who discovered Florida ; Vasco Núñez de Balboa , who discovered the Pacific Ocean ( he called it the `` South Sea '' on the south coast of Panama ) , and Ferdinand Magellan , who first sailed that ocean to the Orients .
During that time , Juan Ponce de León , who discovered Florida , Vasco Núñez de Balboa , who discovered the Pacific ( he called it the `` South Sea '' below Panama ) , and Ferdinand Magellan , who first sailed that ocean to the Orient , profoundly influenced De Soto 's ambitions .