Puppis was originally part of the large constellation Argo Navis. When the International Astronomical Union officially defined the 88 constellations and their boundaries, they split Argo Navis into 4 parts: Carina (the keel), Vela (the sail), Puppis (the poop), and Pyxis (the compass).
Pam Eastlick has contributed a great description of Argo Navis and its associated constellations as seen from Guam.
