Mangoes are native to southeastern Asia, (India) where they have been grown for more than 4,000 years. Because the mango seed can't be dispersed naturally by wind or water due to it's large size and weight, it is believed that people who moved from one region to another transported the fruit to new areas. The spread of Buddhism assisted in the distribution of mangoes in Southeastern Asia. Mango cultivation has now spread to many parts of the tropical and sub-tropical world, where they grow best. Mangoes were carried to Africa during the 16th century and later found their way aboard Portuguese ships to Brazil in the 1700's. Later, in 1742, mangoes were found growing in the West Indies. In 1860, mangoes were successfully introduced to Florida along the East Coast, where only a few varieties were grown. In 1889, the United States Department of Agriculture introduced a grafted variety from India called the Mulgoa, also known as Mulgoba in the United States.