In OTL several nations in South America's Pacific Coast showed some interest in the Pacific. Ecuador took the Galapagos and Chile colonized Easter Island, the only time a South American nation took over a land already with natives and colonized it. Had the nations there been able to develop, could they take more islands and land there? If so, how far would they reach? Most Great Powers had no much interest in the area, so I don't think they would do anything.