Because the South Pacific islands are isolated in the South Pacific area, it became necessary to develop a regional approach to the cruise shipping sector. The South Pacific Cruise Alliance is a non-profit organisation which was officially founded and recognised in 2011. It is now gathering 7 countries of the South Pacific region from American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Pitcairn, Samoa, the Kingdom of Tonga, and newly entered Wallis & Futuna.