The Territory of the Galapagos, commonly known as the Galapagos, is an unincorporated territory of the Union of New Netherland. The territory encompasses the Galapagos Islands, which are located 900 km west of South America and along the equator. New Netherland was among the earliest explorers of the islands (along with the British, New Englanders, and Spanish). Despite being under gradual New Netherlander dominance since the 1850s, it would not be formally annexed until 1884, and became an organized territory in 1898.