 He was a friend and aide of the corregidor of Toledo, Martín de Córdoba, conde de Alcaudete.Ponce's appointment came in 1525 after news about serious difficulties in New Spain began reaching the court of Charles I of Spain and the Council of the Indies.In 1524 Hernán Cortés had learned of the rebellion of Cristóbal de Olid in Honduras and abandoned his governorship of New Spain to treasury officials to head to Honduras.