The Black Pearl is the fastest ship in the Caribbean, able to outrun the Flying Dutchman, although only with the wind. It is also known as the "Ship with Black Sails". In "Pirates of the Caribbean", its appearance reflects the undead nature of its crew; it is worn and battered on its surface, and its sails are badly torn and tattered. Despite its weathered appearance, however, it is still immensely strong and capable, again analogous to the curse of undeath placed on it. Captained by pirate Jack Sparrow, the Pearl fell under First Mate Hector Barbossa's command after a mutiny, although Sparrow resumed command following Barbossa's death. However, it changes possession several more times over the course of Dead Man's Chest and At World's End, and it is last seen back under the resurrected Barbossa's control. At the conclusion of Dead Man's Chest's, a Dutchman crewman remarks, "a captain always goes down with his ship," as the Kraken drags Sparrow and the Pearl to Davy Jones' Locker. Both Sparrow and Barbossa refer to themselves as the Pearl's 'captain', even when neither is in command.

The ship was originally named the Wicked Wench (the name of a ship on the Pirates of the Caribbean theme park ride) while in service to the East India Trading Company. Beckett ordered it sunk after its captain, Jack Sparrow, refused to deliver slave cargo. Sparrow petitioned Captain Davy Jones to raise the vessel from the ocean depths, and rechristened it, Black Pearl. In exchange for being captain for thirteen years, Sparrow agreed to serve aboard Jones' ship, the Flying Dutchman, for one hundred years.
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