Hoenn was introduced in Pokémon Generation III.
The region first appeared in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, released for the Game Boy Advance in Japan in 2002. Players travel across Hoenn while pursuing the Pokémon League and confronting the legendary Pokémon Groudon and Kyogre.
Hoenn’s geography is strongly shaped by water, islands, mountains, and routes that connect coastal and inland settlements. The generation also introduced 135 new Pokémon, bringing the franchise total to 386 at the time. Pokémon Emerald later expanded the same setting with additional story content centered on Rayquaza.
Hoenn is sometimes confused with Sinnoh because both regions were introduced through major paired role-playing games and each has a prominent legendary trio or group. Sinnoh belongs to Generation IV and first appeared in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. Unova and Kalos arrived in later generations.