French Polynesia ( French : PolynÃ sie franÃ aise , Tahitian : Porinetia Farani ) is a French `` overseas collectivity '' ( French : collectivitÃ d'outre mer , or COM ) with the particular designation of `` overseas country '' ( French : pays d'outre-mer , or POM ) in the southern Pacific Ocean . Between 1946 and 2003 , French Polynesia had the status of an overseas territory ( French : territoire d'outre-mer , or TOM ) . In 2003 it became an overseas collectivity ( French : collectivitÃ d'outre-mer , or COM ) .