First mentioned in Star Trek: The Original Series, a different Federation existed before the creation of the United Federation of Planets. Star Trek writer Gene L. Coon is responsible for creating the Federation and helping to establish Starfleet as a concept. The Federation was first mentioned in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 23, "A Taste of Armageddon", which features a visiting Federation Ambassador, and has since become a central part of the Star Trek universe and played a role in almost every Star Trek series.
Several Star Trek the projects revolved around the United Federation of Planets and its establishment. For example, Star Trek: Enterprise leads to the founding of the Federation, while Star Trek: First Contact It depicts humanity's first encounter with the Vulcans. Many disparate elements had to come together for the Federation to form, and its existence exemplifies Gene Roddenberry's utopian vision of the future. However, although this version of the Federation is the best known in Star Trek, another Federation actually existed first.
Star Trek's first federation predates the United Federation of Planets
Balok is the only official representative of the first federation seen on screen
In Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 10, "The Corbomite Maneuver", Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and his crew encounter Commander Balok and his ship, the Fesarius. Balok says that his ship is the flagship of the so-called First Federation and announces that the Enterprise will be destroyed for invading First Federation space. Kirk decides to bluff Balok and claims that a substance called corbomite will destroy Balok's ship. together with the Company. Kirk and his crew eventually meet the real Balok (Clint Howard), who is actually an incredibly intelligent child-like alien who claims to be just testing the Enterprise.
Balok acts as a representative of the First Federation and proposes that one of the Enterprise's crew remain on his ship to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and culture. Lieutenant Dave Bailey (Anthony Call) volunteers to remain aboard the Fesarius with Balok. Although neither Balok nor Bailey have been seen on screen since then the First Federation continues to be part Star Trek history. Many details surrounding the First Federation remain unknown, but it is very possible that it predated the United Federation of Planets.
The first federation was mentioned after Star Trek: TOS
The First Federation exists until at least the 32nd century
As Balok talks to Captain Kirk in "The Corbomite Maneuver", he shares a First Federation drink called tranya. Some time later, the First Federation began exporting tranya to Federation colonies, and by the time of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, was being served at Quark's. The drink is also mentioned in Star Trek: Picard season 1, episode 5, "Stardust City Rag" as being served on the planet Freecloud. Furthermore, the First Federation was seen on star maps and maps seen in the background of scenes in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and Star Trek: Discovery.
Star Trek: Lower Decks it also incorporated references to Balok and the First Federation. In Lower decks season 3, episode 5, "Reflections", the Collectors Guild has a First Federation device at their recruitment booth at a fair on Tulgana IV. The puppet that Balok initially used to intimidate Captain Kirk also made a few appearances in the Lower decks. While much about the First Federation remains a mystery, the intergalactic power introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series it remains active during the 32nd century.