Where is it believed the swimming pool game, Marco Polo, originated?

It is generally accepted that the game, Marco Polo, originated in the United States. The game shares similar traits with blind man's buff, an essentially identical game played on dry land which dates back to at least the 16th century. Marco Polo was known as a water game in America by the 1960s and is now played worldwide. Various regions have their own versions of the game, with names such as Mermaid on the Rocks and Alligator.

The game shares its name with the 13th-century Italian trader and explorer Marco Polo though

there does not appear to be any real connection between the game and the famous explorer According to some, the story is that the explorer didn't really have a clue as to where he was going, this being reflected in the "it" player's behavior.