Columbus discovered America in 1492. That means all of America, not just the USA. "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue." A sailor on board the Pinta sighted land early in the morning of October 12, 1492, and a new era of European exploration and expansion began.

Columbus had three ships on his first voyage, the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. The flagship Santa Maria had the nickname La Gallega.

The Santa Maria had three masts (fore, main, and mizzen), each of which carried one large sail. The foresail and mainsail were square; the sail on the mizzen, or rear, mast was a triangular sail known as a lateen. In addition, the ship carried a small square sail on the bowsprit, and small topsail on the mainmast above the mainsail.

The Pinta was a caravel, a smaller, lighter, and faster ship than the tubby Santa Maria. We don't know much about Pinta, but it probably was about 70 tons. Smallest of the fleet was the Niña, another caravel of probably 50 or 60 tons.