The Pacific Islands region encompasses most of the island nations, territories, and states in the southern part of the Pacific Ocean. The term Oceania includes this region and may also refer to Australia, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, and the island parts of Malaysia. The terms Oceania and Pacific Islands usually do not refer to the Aleutian islands of Alaska or to the islands that are off the Pacific coast of Russia, China, and North and South America, nor do they include the island nations of Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

Usually, the Pacific Islands are grouped into three main clusters that have common historical and ethnic characteristics. The largest is the Polynesian (“many islands”) triangular group that spans much of the South Pacific and includes native New ...