Gatorade was created in 1965 at the University of Florida to help hydrate and replenish electrolytes in Gators football players. It was commercially launched in 1967. Gatorade was acquired by Quaker Oats Company in 1983 and then by PepsiCo in 2001. It has been heavily marketed through celebrity endorsements and commercials since the 1990s. Gatorade is considered a pioneer in the sports drink industry and has become a global cultural phenomenon.