She was designed by the naval architect Zygmunt Choreń as the first in a series of (18 total) middle and large-size contemporary sailing vessels.

Pogoria had been designed (Zygmunt Choreń) for the explicit purpose of training and education of young (from 14 years of age) students in the high seas environment.

It has classroom facilities and its rigging can be manually worked by male or female crew of the junior high school age.

It has also proved to be highly seaworthy, sailing throughout its history all (including Antarctic) seas in often heavy conditions.

On 7 July 2009, two of the masts on Pogoria broke at welded joints while the ship was en route to St Petersburg, Russia.