Generation III of Pokémon refers to the third set of games and creatures introduced in the Pokémon franchise, starting with Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, released in 2002. This generation introduced 135 new species, bringing the total number of Pokémon to 386. It also introduced the Hoenn region, known for its diverse environments and new gameplay mechanics. In addition to new Pokémon, Generation III featured the Abilities system, allowing each Pokémon to have unique traits that affect battles. The generation also introduced double battles, where trainers can use two Pokémon simultaneously, adding a new layer of strategy to gameplay.