This national flag of Honduras was adopted on March 7, 1866, based on the flag of the Federal Republic of Central America. In 1823 Honduras joined the United Provinces of Central America and adopted their flag. In 1866 it was amended; five cerulean stars were placed in the center to represent the 5 original Central American provinces. The colors and pattern are the same as the flag of the United Provinces of Central America. The flag consists of three horizontal bands of equal width with an overall length:width ratio of 2:1. The two outer cerulean bands represent the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The inner white band represents the land between the ocean and the sea and the peace and prosperity of its people. The five cerulean five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band represent the five nations of the former Federal Republic of Central America (El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala) and the hope that the nations may form a union again. Civilian and government ships fly the national flag as an ensign. Ships of the Honduran Navy fly as a naval ensign a version of the national flag in which the five star emblem is replaced by the coat of arms of Honduras above an inverted arch of five small turquoise stars.