Fernão do Pó (Portuguese pronunciation: [fɨɾˈnɐ̃w du ˈpɔ]; fl.
He was one of the navigators working for Fernão Gomes, joining João de Santarém, Pedro Escobar, Lopo Gonçalves, and Pedro de Sintra, a merchant from Lisbon who was granted a monopoly over trade in part of the Gulf of Guinea.
He was among a number of navigators who explored the Gulf of Guinea during this period on behalf of King Afonso V of Portugal.
Before Fernando Pó, Europeans believed Africa was a large island.
Pó explored the western "elbow" of the continent and the long southwestern coast.