Country that dropped "Western" from its name in 1997

SAMOA

This Polynesian nation, known for its traditional tattoo art called pe'a, simplified its official name while keeping its cultural identity intact. Look south of the equator near the International Date Line.

This clue refers to the Pacific island nation that officially changed its name from "Western Samoa" to simply "Samoa" in 1997 to reflect its full independence and cultural identity. The word "dropped" hints at the removal of "Western" from the country's name, making it a straightforward definition with a slight wordplay twist. Samoa is well-known for its Polynesian heritage, so the clue also tests general knowledge of world geography and recent name changes.