diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 8af0652279cc5..a1838ef1c7d5b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -16,6 +16,20 @@ the APIs in these libraries are stable, and are ready for production use.
 
 - [Agent Registry API](/google/cloud/agentregistry/README.md)
 
+### [Bigtable](/google/cloud/bigtable/README.md)
+
+- Explicit instance declaration is now encouraged during client initialization via a new overload of `MakeDataConnection` that takes a `std::vector<InstanceResource>`. Specifying the target instances at client startup enables optimizing connection pooling (pre-warming/priming channels) and telemetry.
+
+  ```cpp
+  #include "google/cloud/bigtable/data_connection.h"
+
+  namespace cbt = ::google::cloud::bigtable;
+
+  auto connection = cbt::MakeDataConnection(
+      {cbt::InstanceResource(google::cloud::Project("my-project"), "my-instance")},
+      google::cloud::Options{});
+  ```
+
 ## v3.6.0 - 2026-06
 
 ### New Libraries
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/benchmarks/benchmark.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/benchmarks/benchmark.cc
index 40fa20ff5bfe1..b58aeb9d3af2b 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/benchmarks/benchmark.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/benchmarks/benchmark.cc
@@ -130,10 +130,13 @@ void Benchmark::DeleteTable() {
 Table Benchmark::MakeTable(Options connection_opts) const {
   auto connection_options = MergeOptions(std::move(connection_opts), opts_);
   auto table_opts = Options{}.set<AppProfileIdOption>(options_.app_profile_id);
-  return Table(MakeDataConnection(std::move(connection_options)),
-               TableResource(options_.project_id, options_.instance_id,
-                             options_.table_id),
-               std::move(table_opts));
+  return Table(
+      MakeDataConnection({InstanceResource(Project(options_.project_id),
+                                           options_.instance_id)},
+                         std::move(connection_options)),
+      TableResource(options_.project_id, options_.instance_id,
+                    options_.table_id),
+      std::move(table_opts));
 }
 
 google::cloud::StatusOr<BenchmarkResult> Benchmark::PopulateTable() {
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/benchmarks/embedded_server_test.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/benchmarks/embedded_server_test.cc
index 79c956d7f5a7f..07711f195c3f4 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/benchmarks/embedded_server_test.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/benchmarks/embedded_server_test.cc
@@ -76,7 +76,9 @@ TEST(EmbeddedServer, TableApply) {
           .set<GrpcCredentialOption>(grpc::InsecureChannelCredentials())
           .set<EndpointOption>(server->address());
 
-  Table table(MakeDataConnection(options),
+  Table table(MakeDataConnection(
+                  {InstanceResource(Project("fake-project"), "fake-instance")},
+                  std::move(options)),
               TableResource("fake-project", "fake-instance", "fake-table"));
 
   SingleRowMutation mutation("row1",
@@ -101,7 +103,9 @@ TEST(EmbeddedServer, TableBulkApply) {
           .set<GrpcCredentialOption>(grpc::InsecureChannelCredentials())
           .set<EndpointOption>(server->address());
 
-  Table table(MakeDataConnection(options),
+  Table table(MakeDataConnection(
+                  {InstanceResource(Project("fake-project"), "fake-instance")},
+                  std::move(options)),
               TableResource("fake-project", "fake-instance", "fake-table"));
 
   BulkMutation bulk;
@@ -128,7 +132,9 @@ TEST(EmbeddedServer, ReadRows1) {
           .set<GrpcCredentialOption>(grpc::InsecureChannelCredentials())
           .set<EndpointOption>(server->address());
 
-  Table table(MakeDataConnection(options),
+  Table table(MakeDataConnection(
+                  {InstanceResource(Project("fake-project"), "fake-instance")},
+                  std::move(options)),
               TableResource("fake-project", "fake-instance", "fake-table"));
 
   EXPECT_EQ(0, server->read_rows_count());
@@ -150,7 +156,9 @@ TEST(EmbeddedServer, ReadRows100) {
           .set<GrpcCredentialOption>(grpc::InsecureChannelCredentials())
           .set<EndpointOption>(server->address());
 
-  Table table(MakeDataConnection(options),
+  Table table(MakeDataConnection(
+                  {InstanceResource(Project("fake-project"), "fake-instance")},
+                  std::move(options)),
               TableResource("fake-project", "fake-instance", "fake-table"));
 
   EXPECT_EQ(0, server->read_rows_count());
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/benchmarks/mutation_batcher_throughput_benchmark.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/benchmarks/mutation_batcher_throughput_benchmark.cc
index e5c01218a6ab0..b3a969e44eb07 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/benchmarks/mutation_batcher_throughput_benchmark.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/benchmarks/mutation_batcher_throughput_benchmark.cc
@@ -201,6 +201,8 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
 
   auto table = cbt::Table(
       cbt::MakeDataConnection(
+          {cbt::InstanceResource(google::cloud::Project(options->project_id),
+                                 options->instance_id)},
           Options{}.set<google::cloud::GrpcBackgroundThreadPoolSizeOption>(
               options->max_batches)),
       cbt::TableResource(options->project_id, options->instance_id, *table_id));
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/data_connection.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/data_connection.cc
index 91ee5a61d5b46..f1edca85380d5 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/data_connection.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/data_connection.cc
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 // See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 // limitations under the License.
 
+#include "google/cloud/internal/disable_deprecation_warnings.inc"
 #include "google/cloud/bigtable/data_connection.h"
 #include "google/cloud/bigtable/internal/bigtable_stub_factory.h"
 #include "google/cloud/bigtable/internal/data_connection_impl.h"
@@ -174,6 +175,13 @@ bigtable::RowStream DataConnection::ExecuteQuery(bigtable::ExecuteQueryParams) {
           Status(StatusCode::kUnimplemented, "not implemented")));
 }
 
+std::shared_ptr<DataConnection> MakeDataConnection(
+    std::vector<InstanceResource> instances, Options options) {
+  options.set<experimental::InstanceChannelAffinityOption>(
+      std::move(instances));
+  return MakeDataConnection(std::move(options));
+}
+
 std::shared_ptr<DataConnection> MakeDataConnection(Options options) {
   google::cloud::internal::CheckExpectedOptions<
       AppProfileIdOption, CommonOptionList, GrpcOptionList,
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/data_connection.h b/google/cloud/bigtable/data_connection.h
index 2ff911892880a..a45810191bcf9 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/data_connection.h
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/data_connection.h
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #define GOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_GOOGLE_CLOUD_BIGTABLE_DATA_CONNECTION_H
 
 #include "google/cloud/bigtable/filters.h"
+#include "google/cloud/bigtable/instance_resource.h"
 #include "google/cloud/bigtable/internal/bigtable_stub.h"
 #include "google/cloud/bigtable/mutation_branch.h"
 #include "google/cloud/bigtable/mutations.h"
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@
 #include "google/cloud/stream_range.h"
 #include "google/cloud/version.h"
 #include <memory>
+#include <vector>
 
 namespace google {
 namespace cloud {
@@ -168,6 +170,10 @@ class DataConnection {
  * Returns a `DataConnection` object that can be used for interacting with
  * the Cloud Bigtable Data API.
  *
+ * Calling this function with a list of target @p instances automatically
+ * enables dynamic channel pooling for those instances, allowing the connection
+ * pools to scale dynamically based on outstanding RPC load.
+ *
  * The returned connection object should not be used directly; instead it
  * should be given to a `Table` instance, and methods should be invoked on
  * `Table`.
@@ -186,9 +192,27 @@ class DataConnection {
  *     `GOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE_CLOG=yes` in the environment and unexpected
  *     options will be logged.
  *
+ * @param instances The target instances to connect to. Specifying target
+ *     instances enables dynamic channel pooling and other connection-level
+ *     optimizations.
+ * @param options (optional) Configure the `DataConnection` created by this
+ *     function.
+ */
+std::shared_ptr<DataConnection> MakeDataConnection(
+    std::vector<InstanceResource> instances, Options options = {});
+
+/**
+ * Returns a `DataConnection` object that can be used for interacting with
+ * the Cloud Bigtable Data API.
+ *
+ * @deprecated Use the MakeDataConnection overload that accepts a vector of
+ *     instances.
+ *
  * @param options (optional) Configure the `DataConnection` created by this
  *     function.
  */
+GOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_DEPRECATED(
+    "Use the MakeDataConnection overload that accepts a vector of instances.")
 std::shared_ptr<DataConnection> MakeDataConnection(Options options = {});
 
 GOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_INLINE_NAMESPACE_END
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/data_connection_test.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/data_connection_test.cc
index 2682aa2dee32e..3a503d35f4c28 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/data_connection_test.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/data_connection_test.cc
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 // See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 // limitations under the License.
 
+#include "google/cloud/internal/disable_deprecation_warnings.inc"
 #include "google/cloud/bigtable/data_connection.h"
 #include "google/cloud/bigtable/internal/bigtable_stub_factory.h"
 #include "google/cloud/bigtable/options.h"
@@ -100,6 +101,22 @@ TEST(MakeDataConnection, TracingDisabled) {
   EXPECT_THAT(span_catcher->GetSpans(), IsEmpty());
 }
 
+TEST(MakeDataConnection, WithInstances) {
+  InstanceResource instance_a{Project("my-project"), "instance-a"};
+  InstanceResource instance_b{Project("my-project"), "instance-b"};
+  auto conn = MakeDataConnection(
+      {instance_a, instance_b},
+      TestOptions().set<AppProfileIdOption>("user-supplied"));
+  auto options = conn->options();
+  EXPECT_TRUE(options.has<DataBackoffPolicyOption>())
+      << "Options are not defaulted in MakeDataConnection()";
+  EXPECT_EQ(options.get<AppProfileIdOption>(), "user-supplied")
+      << "User supplied Options are overridden in MakeDataConnection()";
+  ASSERT_TRUE(options.has<experimental::InstanceChannelAffinityOption>());
+  EXPECT_THAT(options.get<experimental::InstanceChannelAffinityOption>().size(),
+              Eq(2));
+}
+
 }  // namespace
 GOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_INLINE_NAMESPACE_END
 }  // namespace bigtable
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/bigtable_examples_common.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/bigtable_examples_common.cc
index 27cc70c478250..5d395636536c4 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/bigtable_examples_common.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/bigtable_examples_common.cc
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 // See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 // limitations under the License.
 
+#include "google/cloud/internal/disable_deprecation_warnings.inc"
 #include "google/cloud/bigtable/examples/bigtable_examples_common.h"
 #include "google/cloud/internal/getenv.h"
 #include "absl/strings/str_join.h"
@@ -53,7 +54,9 @@ Commands::value_type MakeCommandEntry(std::string const& name,
       throw Usage{std::move(os).str()};
     }
     google::cloud::bigtable::Table table(
-        google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(),
+        google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(
+            {google::cloud::bigtable::InstanceResource(
+                google::cloud::Project(argv[0]), argv[1])}),
         google::cloud::bigtable::TableResource(argv[0], argv[1], argv[2]));
     argv.erase(argv.begin(), argv.begin() + 3);
     function(table, argv);
@@ -118,7 +121,9 @@ Commands::value_type MakeCommandEntry(std::string const& name,
       throw Usage{std::move(os).str()};
     }
     google::cloud::bigtable::Table table(
-        google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(),
+        google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(
+            {google::cloud::bigtable::InstanceResource(
+                google::cloud::Project(argv[0]), argv[1])}),
         google::cloud::bigtable::TableResource(argv[0], argv[1], argv[2]));
     google::cloud::CompletionQueue cq;
     std::thread t([&cq] { cq.Run(); });
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/bigtable_hello_app_profile.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/bigtable_hello_app_profile.cc
index 9253292216d76..a7ac55ae9d090 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/bigtable_hello_app_profile.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/bigtable_hello_app_profile.cc
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ void HelloWorldAppProfile(std::vector<std::string> const& argv) {
   std::string const& profile_id = argv[3];
 
   // Create an object to access the Cloud Bigtable Data API.
-  auto connection = cbt::MakeDataConnection();
+  auto connection = cbt::MakeDataConnection(
+      {cbt::InstanceResource(google::cloud::Project(project_id), instance_id)});
 
   // Use the default profile to write some data.
   cbt::Table write(connection,
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/bigtable_hello_world.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/bigtable_hello_world.cc
index 9ca9d479d0240..4c9f154542d36 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/bigtable_hello_world.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/bigtable_hello_world.cc
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ void BigtableHelloWorld(std::vector<std::string> const& argv) {
 
   //! [connect data]
   // Create an object to access the Cloud Bigtable Data API.
-  cbt::Table table(cbt::MakeDataConnection(),
+  cbt::Table table(cbt::MakeDataConnection({cbt::InstanceResource(
+                       google::cloud::Project(project_id), instance_id)}),
                    cbt::TableResource(project_id, instance_id, table_id));
   //! [connect data]
   //! [connect admin] [END bigtable_hw_connect]
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/client_samples.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/client_samples.cc
index e9b77e588272f..4ebd7a03c2b55 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/client_samples.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/client_samples.cc
@@ -40,7 +40,12 @@ void TableSetEndpoint(std::vector<std::string> const& argv) {
     auto options = google::cloud::Options{}.set<google::cloud::EndpointOption>(
         "private.googleapis.com");
     auto resource = bigtable::TableResource(project_id, instance_id, table_id);
-    return bigtable::Table(bigtable::MakeDataConnection(options), resource);
+    return bigtable::Table(
+        bigtable::MakeDataConnection(
+            {bigtable::InstanceResource(google::cloud::Project(project_id),
+                                        instance_id)},
+            std::move(options)),
+        resource);
   }
   //! [table-set-endpoint]
   (argv.at(0), argv.at(1), argv.at(2));
@@ -66,7 +71,10 @@ void SetRetryPolicy(std::vector<std::string> const& argv) {
                                /*maximum_delay=*/std::chrono::seconds(45),
                                /*scaling=*/2.0)
                                .clone());
-    auto connection = cbt::MakeDataConnection(options);
+    auto connection = cbt::MakeDataConnection(
+        {cbt::InstanceResource(google::cloud::Project(project_id),
+                               instance_id)},
+        std::move(options));
 
     auto const table_name =
         cbt::TableResource(project_id, instance_id, table_id);
@@ -111,7 +119,12 @@ void TableWithServiceAccount(std::vector<std::string> const& argv) {
         google::cloud::Options{}.set<google::cloud::UnifiedCredentialsOption>(
             google::cloud::MakeServiceAccountCredentials(contents));
     auto resource = bigtable::TableResource(project_id, instance_id, table_id);
-    return bigtable::Table(bigtable::MakeDataConnection(options), resource);
+    return bigtable::Table(
+        bigtable::MakeDataConnection(
+            {bigtable::InstanceResource(google::cloud::Project(project_id),
+                                        instance_id)},
+            std::move(options)),
+        resource);
   }
   //! [table-with-service-account]
   (argv.at(0), argv.at(1), argv.at(2), argv.at(3));
@@ -137,7 +150,12 @@ void TableSetUniverseDomain(std::vector<std::string> const& argv) {
 
     if (!ud_options.ok()) throw std::move(ud_options).status();
     auto resource = bigtable::TableResource(project_id, instance_id, table_id);
-    return bigtable::Table(bigtable::MakeDataConnection(*ud_options), resource);
+    return bigtable::Table(
+        bigtable::MakeDataConnection(
+            {bigtable::InstanceResource(google::cloud::Project(project_id),
+                                        instance_id)},
+            *std::move(ud_options)),
+        resource);
   }
   //! [table-set-universe-domain]
   (argv.at(0), argv.at(1), argv.at(2));
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/data_async_snippets.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/data_async_snippets.cc
index 52aea204daf30..53f93944272ee 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/data_async_snippets.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/data_async_snippets.cc
@@ -350,7 +350,8 @@ void RunAll(std::vector<std::string> const& argv) {
   if (!schema) throw std::move(schema).status();
 
   using ::google::cloud::Options;
-  cbt::Table table(cbt::MakeDataConnection(),
+  cbt::Table table(cbt::MakeDataConnection({cbt::InstanceResource(
+                       google::cloud::Project(project_id), instance_id)}),
                    cbt::TableResource(project_id, instance_id, table_id),
                    Options{}.set<cbt::IdempotentMutationPolicyOption>(
                        cbt::AlwaysRetryMutationPolicy().clone()));
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/data_filter_snippets.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/data_filter_snippets.cc
index 03d9d991945fd..6bc48c59648f9 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/data_filter_snippets.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/data_filter_snippets.cc
@@ -579,7 +579,8 @@ void RunAll(std::vector<std::string> const& argv) {
                                   table_id, std::move(t));
   if (!schema) throw std::move(schema).status();
 
-  cbt::Table table(cbt::MakeDataConnection(),
+  cbt::Table table(cbt::MakeDataConnection({cbt::InstanceResource(
+                       google::cloud::Project(project_id), instance_id)}),
                    cbt::TableResource(project_id, instance_id, table_id));
 
   std::cout << "\nPreparing data for multiple examples" << std::endl;
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/data_snippets.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/data_snippets.cc
index f261a2acdc796..f12e9de24f8c8 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/data_snippets.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/data_snippets.cc
@@ -60,7 +60,8 @@ void ApplyRelaxedIdempotency(google::cloud::bigtable::Table const& table,
   namespace cbt = ::google::cloud::bigtable;
   [](std::string const& project_id, std::string const& instance_id,
      std::string const& table_id, std::string const& row_key) {
-    cbt::Table table(cbt::MakeDataConnection(),
+    cbt::Table table(cbt::MakeDataConnection({cbt::InstanceResource(
+                         google::cloud::Project(project_id), instance_id)}),
                      cbt::TableResource(project_id, instance_id, table_id),
                      Options{}.set<cbt::IdempotentMutationPolicyOption>(
                          cbt::AlwaysRetryMutationPolicy().clone()));
@@ -83,7 +84,8 @@ void ApplyCustomRetry(google::cloud::bigtable::Table const& table,
   namespace cbt = ::google::cloud::bigtable;
   [](std::string const& project_id, std::string const& instance_id,
      std::string const& table_id, std::string const& row_key) {
-    cbt::Table table(cbt::MakeDataConnection(),
+    cbt::Table table(cbt::MakeDataConnection({cbt::InstanceResource(
+                         google::cloud::Project(project_id), instance_id)}),
                      cbt::TableResource(project_id, instance_id, table_id),
                      Options{}.set<cbt::DataRetryPolicyOption>(
                          cbt::DataLimitedErrorCountRetryPolicy(7).clone()));
@@ -348,7 +350,10 @@ void MutateDeleteColumns(std::vector<std::string> const& argv) {
   }
   //! [connect data]
   google::cloud::bigtable::Table table(
-      google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(),
+      google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection({
+          google::cloud::bigtable::InstanceResource(
+              google::cloud::Project(project_id), instance_id),
+      }),
       google::cloud::bigtable::TableResource(project_id, instance_id,
                                              table_id));
   //! [connect data]
@@ -408,7 +413,10 @@ void MutateDeleteRowsCommand(std::vector<std::string> const& argv) {
   auto const table_id = *it++;
   std::vector<std::string> rows(it, argv.cend());
   google::cloud::bigtable::Table table(
-      google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(),
+      google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection({
+          google::cloud::bigtable::InstanceResource(
+              google::cloud::Project(project_id), instance_id),
+      }),
       google::cloud::bigtable::TableResource(project_id, instance_id,
                                              table_id));
   MutateDeleteRows(table, std::move(rows));
@@ -477,7 +485,10 @@ void MutateInsertUpdateRowsCommand(std::vector<std::string> const& argv) {
   auto const table_id = *it++;
   std::vector<std::string> rows(it, argv.cend());
   google::cloud::bigtable::Table table(
-      google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(),
+      google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection({
+          google::cloud::bigtable::InstanceResource(
+              google::cloud::Project(project_id), instance_id),
+      }),
       google::cloud::bigtable::TableResource(project_id, instance_id,
                                              table_id));
   MutateInsertUpdateRows(table, std::move(rows));
@@ -708,8 +719,11 @@ void ConfigureConnectionPoolSize(std::vector<std::string> const& argv) {
      std::string const& table_id) {
     auto constexpr kPoolSize = 10;
     auto options = gc::Options{}.set<gc::GrpcNumChannelsOption>(kPoolSize);
-    cbt::Table table(cbt::MakeDataConnection(options),
-                     cbt::TableResource(project_id, instance_id, table_id));
+    cbt::Table table(
+        cbt::MakeDataConnection(
+            {cbt::InstanceResource(gc::Project(project_id), instance_id)},
+            std::move(options)),
+        cbt::TableResource(project_id, instance_id, table_id));
     std::cout << "Connected with channel pool size of " << kPoolSize << "\n";
   }
   // [END bigtable_configure_connection_pool]
@@ -732,7 +746,8 @@ void RunMutateExamples(
   if (!schema) throw std::move(schema).status();
 
   using ::google::cloud::Options;
-  cbt::Table table(cbt::MakeDataConnection(),
+  cbt::Table table(cbt::MakeDataConnection({cbt::InstanceResource(
+                       google::cloud::Project(project_id), instance_id)}),
                    cbt::TableResource(project_id, instance_id, table_id),
                    Options{}.set<cbt::IdempotentMutationPolicyOption>(
                        cbt::AlwaysRetryMutationPolicy().clone()));
@@ -763,7 +778,8 @@ void RunWriteExamples(
   if (!schema) throw std::move(schema).status();
 
   using ::google::cloud::Options;
-  cbt::Table table(cbt::MakeDataConnection(),
+  cbt::Table table(cbt::MakeDataConnection({cbt::InstanceResource(
+                       google::cloud::Project(project_id), instance_id)}),
                    cbt::TableResource(project_id, instance_id, table_id),
                    Options{}.set<cbt::IdempotentMutationPolicyOption>(
                        cbt::AlwaysRetryMutationPolicy().clone()));
@@ -829,7 +845,8 @@ void RunDataExamples(
   if (!schema) throw std::move(schema).status();
 
   using ::google::cloud::Options;
-  cbt::Table table(cbt::MakeDataConnection(),
+  cbt::Table table(cbt::MakeDataConnection({cbt::InstanceResource(
+                       google::cloud::Project(project_id), instance_id)}),
                    cbt::TableResource(project_id, instance_id, table_id),
                    Options{}.set<cbt::IdempotentMutationPolicyOption>(
                        cbt::AlwaysRetryMutationPolicy().clone()));
@@ -914,7 +931,8 @@ void RunDataExamples(
   ReadModifyWrite(table, {"read-modify-write"});
 
   if (!google::cloud::bigtable::examples::UsingEmulator()) {
-    auto client = cbt::Client(cbt::MakeDataConnection());
+    auto client = cbt::Client(cbt::MakeDataConnection({cbt::InstanceResource(
+        google::cloud::Project(project_id), instance_id)}));
     std::cout << "Running PrepareAndExecuteQuery() example" << std::endl;
     PrepareAndExecuteQuery(client, {project_id, instance_id, table_id});
   }
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/read_snippets.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/read_snippets.cc
index eb96e7b8e11bf..69492806f4266 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/read_snippets.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/examples/read_snippets.cc
@@ -145,7 +145,10 @@ void ReadKeysSet(std::vector<std::string> argv) {
   }
 
   google::cloud::bigtable::Table table(
-      google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(),
+      google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection({
+          google::cloud::bigtable::InstanceResource(
+              google::cloud::Project(argv[0]), argv[1]),
+      }),
       google::cloud::bigtable::TableResource(argv[0], argv[1], argv[2]));
   argv.erase(argv.begin(), argv.begin() + 3);
 
@@ -391,7 +394,8 @@ void RunAll(std::vector<std::string> const& argv) {
                                   table_id, std::move(t));
   if (!schema) throw std::move(schema).status();
 
-  cbt::Table table(cbt::MakeDataConnection(),
+  cbt::Table table(cbt::MakeDataConnection({cbt::InstanceResource(
+                       google::cloud::Project(project_id), instance_id)}),
                    cbt::TableResource(project_id, instance_id, table_id));
 
   std::cout << "Preparing data for read examples" << std::endl;
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/internal/stub_manager.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/internal/stub_manager.cc
index 9cfa7832d4652..a9e682c93b02c 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/internal/stub_manager.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/internal/stub_manager.cc
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 // limitations under the License.
 
 #include "google/cloud/bigtable/internal/stub_manager.h"
+#include "google/cloud/log.h"
 #include <utility>
 
 namespace google {
@@ -39,6 +40,8 @@ std::shared_ptr<BigtableStub> StubManager::GetStub(
       iter != affinity_stubs_.end()) {
     return iter->second;
   }
+  GCP_LOG(INFO) << "Dynamic connection resolution adding new channel pool "
+                << "for instance: " << instance_name;
   auto inserted = affinity_stubs_.emplace(
       std::string{instance_name},
       stub_creation_fn_(instance_name, Priming::kNoPriming));
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/internal/stub_manager_test.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/internal/stub_manager_test.cc
index 97fb6562b76ef..70c460d736371 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/internal/stub_manager_test.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/internal/stub_manager_test.cc
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include "google/cloud/bigtable/instance_resource.h"
 #include "google/cloud/bigtable/table_resource.h"
 #include "google/cloud/bigtable/testing/mock_bigtable_stub.h"
+#include "google/cloud/testing_util/scoped_log.h"
 #include "google/cloud/testing_util/status_matchers.h"
 #include <gmock/gmock.h>
 
@@ -27,7 +28,9 @@ namespace {
 
 using ::google::cloud::bigtable::testing::MockBigtableStub;
 using ::google::cloud::testing_util::IsOk;
+using ::testing::Contains;
 using ::testing::Eq;
+using ::testing::HasSubstr;
 using ::testing::MockFunction;
 using ::testing::StartsWith;
 
@@ -87,6 +90,7 @@ TEST(StubManagerTest, AffinityToExistingInstance) {
 }
 
 TEST(StubManagerTest, AffinityToMissingInstance) {
+  testing_util::ScopedLog log;
   bigtable::InstanceResource instance_a(Project("my-project"), "a");
   bigtable::TableResource table_a(instance_a, "my-table");
   auto mock_stub_a = std::make_shared<MockBigtableStub>();
@@ -119,6 +123,9 @@ TEST(StubManagerTest, AffinityToMissingInstance) {
   request.set_table_name(expected_table_name);
   auto result = stub->MutateRow(context, {}, request);
   EXPECT_THAT(result, IsOk());
+  EXPECT_THAT(log.ExtractLines(),
+              Contains(HasSubstr(
+                  "Dynamic connection resolution adding new channel pool")));
 }
 
 }  // namespace
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/test_proxy/cbt_test_proxy.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/test_proxy/cbt_test_proxy.cc
index 63bf68e1c45c4..bc530e9568794 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/test_proxy/cbt_test_proxy.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/test_proxy/cbt_test_proxy.cc
@@ -123,7 +123,8 @@ grpc::Status CbtTestProxy::CreateClient(
         grpc::StatusCode::ALREADY_EXISTS,
         absl::StrCat("Client ", request->client_id(), " already exists."));
   }
-  connections_.insert({request->client_id(), MakeDataConnection(options)});
+  connections_.insert(
+      {request->client_id(), MakeDataConnection(std::move(options))});
   return grpc::Status();
 }
 
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/testing/table_integration_test.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/testing/table_integration_test.cc
index d70d1346d0997..64af56d6cf0b9 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/testing/table_integration_test.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/testing/table_integration_test.cc
@@ -128,7 +128,9 @@ void TableIntegrationTest::SetUp() {
           .value_or("") == "dynamic") {
     options.set<experimental::InstanceChannelAffinityOption>({});
   }
-  data_connection_ = MakeDataConnection(options);
+  data_connection_ = MakeDataConnection(
+      {InstanceResource(Project(project_id()), instance_id())},
+      std::move(options));
 
   // In production, we cannot use `DropAllRows()` to cleanup the table because
   // the integration tests sometimes consume all the 'DropRowRangeGroup' quota.
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/tests/data_integration_test.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/tests/data_integration_test.cc
index 2146f75342b85..3cf043aa92dab 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/tests/data_integration_test.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/tests/data_integration_test.cc
@@ -129,6 +129,8 @@ TEST_F(DataIntegrationTest, TableBulkApplyThrottling) {
   // Make a custom table with throttling enabled.
   auto table =
       Table(MakeDataConnection(
+                {InstanceResource(Project(TableTestEnvironment::project_id()),
+                                  TableTestEnvironment::instance_id())},
                 Options{}.set<experimental::BulkApplyThrottlingOption>(true)),
             TableResource(TableTestEnvironment::project_id(),
                           TableTestEnvironment::instance_id(),
@@ -578,7 +580,8 @@ TEST_F(DataIntegrationTest, TableApplyWithLogging) {
   // Make a `Table` with an implementation that depends on the test's value
   // parameter.
   auto make_table = [&](Options const& options) {
-    auto conn = MakeDataConnection(options);
+    auto conn = MakeDataConnection(
+        {InstanceResource(Project(project_id()), instance_id())}, options);
     return Table(std::move(conn),
                  TableResource(project_id(), instance_id(), table_id));
   };
@@ -617,7 +620,10 @@ TEST_F(DataIntegrationTest, ClientQueryColumnFamily) {
           .set<
               bigtable::experimental::ExecuteQueryPlanRefreshRetryPolicyOption>(
               std::move(query_refresh_option));
-  auto connection = google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(opts);
+  auto connection = google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(
+      {google::cloud::bigtable::InstanceResource(
+          google::cloud::Project(project_id()), instance_id())},
+      opts);
   auto table =
       Table(connection, TableResource(project_id(), instance_id(), table_id));
   std::string const row_key = "row-key-for-client-query-test";
@@ -632,7 +638,7 @@ TEST_F(DataIntegrationTest, ClientQueryColumnFamily) {
       {row_key, family, column2, 0, value2},
   };
   BulkApply(table, created);
-  auto client = Client(connection, opts);
+  auto client = Client(connection, std::move(opts));
   std::vector<std::string> full_table_path =
       absl::StrSplit(table.table_name(), '/');
   auto table_name = full_table_path.back();
@@ -683,7 +689,10 @@ TEST_F(DataIntegrationTest, ClientQueryColumnFamilyWithHistory) {
           .set<
               bigtable::experimental::ExecuteQueryPlanRefreshRetryPolicyOption>(
               std::move(query_refresh_option));
-  auto connection = google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(opts);
+  auto connection = google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(
+      {google::cloud::bigtable::InstanceResource(
+          google::cloud::Project(project_id()), instance_id())},
+      opts);
   auto table =
       Table(connection, TableResource(project_id(), instance_id(), table_id));
   std::string const row_key = "row-key-for-history-test";
@@ -724,7 +733,7 @@ TEST_F(DataIntegrationTest, ClientQueryColumnFamilyWithHistory) {
   ASSERT_TRUE(apply_status.ok()) << apply_status.message();
 
   // Execute query using WITH_HISTORY
-  auto client = Client(connection, opts);
+  auto client = Client(connection, std::move(opts));
   std::vector<std::string> full_table_path =
       absl::StrSplit(table.table_name(), '/');
   auto table_name = full_table_path.back();
@@ -827,7 +836,10 @@ TEST_F(DataIntegrationTest, SingleColumnQuery) {
           .set<
               bigtable::experimental::ExecuteQueryPlanRefreshRetryPolicyOption>(
               std::move(query_refresh_option));
-  auto connection = google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(opts);
+  auto connection = google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(
+      {google::cloud::bigtable::InstanceResource(
+          google::cloud::Project(project_id()), instance_id())},
+      opts);
   auto table =
       Table(connection, TableResource(project_id(), instance_id(), table_id));
   std::string const row_key = "row-key-for-client-query-test";
@@ -842,7 +854,7 @@ TEST_F(DataIntegrationTest, SingleColumnQuery) {
       {row_key, family, column2, 0, value2},
   };
   BulkApply(table, created);
-  auto client = Client(connection, opts);
+  auto client = Client(connection, std::move(opts));
   std::vector<std::string> full_table_path =
       absl::StrSplit(table.table_name(), '/');
   auto table_name = full_table_path.back();
@@ -890,7 +902,10 @@ TEST_F(DataIntegrationTest, SingleColumnQueryWithHistory) {
           .set<
               bigtable::experimental::ExecuteQueryPlanRefreshRetryPolicyOption>(
               std::move(query_refresh_option));
-  auto connection = google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(opts);
+  auto connection = google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(
+      {google::cloud::bigtable::InstanceResource(
+          google::cloud::Project(project_id()), instance_id())},
+      opts);
   auto table =
       Table(connection, TableResource(project_id(), instance_id(), table_id));
   std::string const row_key = "row-key-for-history-test";
@@ -920,7 +935,7 @@ TEST_F(DataIntegrationTest, SingleColumnQueryWithHistory) {
   ASSERT_TRUE(apply_status.ok()) << apply_status.message();
 
   // Execute query using WITH_HISTORY
-  auto client = Client(connection, opts);
+  auto client = Client(connection, std::move(opts));
   std::vector<std::string> full_table_path =
       absl::StrSplit(table.table_name(), '/');
   auto table_name = full_table_path.back();
@@ -994,7 +1009,10 @@ TEST_F(DataIntegrationTest, MultiColumnQuery) {
           .set<
               bigtable::experimental::ExecuteQueryPlanRefreshRetryPolicyOption>(
               std::move(query_refresh_option));
-  auto connection = google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(opts);
+  auto connection = google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(
+      {google::cloud::bigtable::InstanceResource(
+          google::cloud::Project(project_id()), instance_id())},
+      opts);
   auto table =
       Table(connection, TableResource(project_id(), instance_id(), table_id));
   std::string const row_key1 = "multi-column-query-row-1";
@@ -1014,7 +1032,7 @@ TEST_F(DataIntegrationTest, MultiColumnQuery) {
   };
 
   BulkApply(table, created);
-  auto client = Client(connection, opts);
+  auto client = Client(connection, std::move(opts));
   std::vector<std::string> full_table_path =
       absl::StrSplit(table.table_name(), '/');
   auto table_name = full_table_path.back();
@@ -1061,7 +1079,10 @@ TEST_F(DataIntegrationTest, QueryWithNulls) {
           .set<
               bigtable::experimental::ExecuteQueryPlanRefreshRetryPolicyOption>(
               std::move(query_refresh_option));
-  auto connection = google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(opts);
+  auto connection = google::cloud::bigtable::MakeDataConnection(
+      {google::cloud::bigtable::InstanceResource(
+          google::cloud::Project(project_id()), instance_id())},
+      opts);
   auto table =
       Table(connection, TableResource(project_id(), instance_id(), table_id));
   std::string const row_key1 = "query-with-nulls-row-1";
@@ -1081,7 +1102,7 @@ TEST_F(DataIntegrationTest, QueryWithNulls) {
   };
   BulkApply(table, created);
 
-  auto client = Client(connection, opts);
+  auto client = Client(connection, std::move(opts));
   std::vector<std::string> full_table_path =
       absl::StrSplit(table.table_name(), '/');
   auto table_name = full_table_path.back();
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/tests/table_admin_integration_test.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/tests/table_admin_integration_test.cc
index 1f79a23ba4bba..702b9a2ad140c 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/tests/table_admin_integration_test.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/tests/table_admin_integration_test.cc
@@ -182,7 +182,8 @@ TEST_F(TableAdminIntegrationTest, CreateListGetDeleteTable) {
   create_request.set_parent(instance_name);
   create_request.set_table_id(table_id);
   ASSERT_STATUS_OK(table_admin_->CreateTable(create_request));
-  bigtable::Table table(MakeDataConnection(),
+  bigtable::Table table(MakeDataConnection({InstanceResource(
+                            Project(project_id()), instance_id())}),
                         TableResource(project_id(), instance_id(), table_id));
 
   // List tables
@@ -306,8 +307,9 @@ TEST_F(TableAdminIntegrationTest, WaitForConsistencyCheck) {
 
   // We need to mutate the data in the table and then wait for those mutations
   // to propagate to both clusters. First create a `bigtable::Table` object.
-  auto table = Table(MakeDataConnection(),
-                     TableResource(project_id(), id, random_table_id));
+  auto table =
+      Table(MakeDataConnection({InstanceResource(Project(project_id()), id)}),
+            TableResource(project_id(), id, random_table_id));
   // Insert some cells into the table.
   std::string const row_key1 = "check-consistency-row1";
   std::string const row_key2 = "check-consistency-row2";
@@ -379,7 +381,8 @@ TEST_F(TableAdminIntegrationTest, CreateListGetDeleteTableWithLogging) {
   request.set_parent(instance_name);
   request.set_table_id(table_id);
   ASSERT_STATUS_OK(table_admin->CreateTable(request));
-  bigtable::Table table(MakeDataConnection(),
+  bigtable::Table table(MakeDataConnection({InstanceResource(
+                            Project(project_id()), instance_id())}),
                         TableResource(project_id(), instance_id(), table_id));
 
   // List tables
diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/tests/table_sample_rows_integration_test.cc b/google/cloud/bigtable/tests/table_sample_rows_integration_test.cc
index 30388be60523a..bc9c32fdb6594 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/tests/table_sample_rows_integration_test.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/tests/table_sample_rows_integration_test.cc
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ class SampleRowsIntegrationTest
     // disabled because it simply generates too much data.
     auto table =
         Table(MakeDataConnection(
+                  {InstanceResource(Project(TableTestEnvironment::project_id()),
+                                    TableTestEnvironment::instance_id())},
                   Options{}
                       .set<LoggingComponentsOption>({"rpc"})
                       .set<GrpcTracingOptionsOption>(TracingOptions())),
@@ -112,7 +114,9 @@ class SampleRowsIntegrationTest
 };
 
 TEST_F(SampleRowsIntegrationTest, SyncWithDataConnection) {
-  auto table = Table(MakeDataConnection(),
+  auto table = Table(MakeDataConnection({InstanceResource(
+                         Project(TableTestEnvironment::project_id()),
+                         TableTestEnvironment::instance_id())}),
                      TableResource(TableTestEnvironment::project_id(),
                                    TableTestEnvironment::instance_id(),
                                    TableTestEnvironment::table_id()));
@@ -120,7 +124,9 @@ TEST_F(SampleRowsIntegrationTest, SyncWithDataConnection) {
 };
 
 TEST_F(SampleRowsIntegrationTest, AsyncWithDataConnection) {
-  auto table = Table(MakeDataConnection(),
+  auto table = Table(MakeDataConnection({InstanceResource(
+                         Project(TableTestEnvironment::project_id()),
+                         TableTestEnvironment::instance_id())}),
                      TableResource(TableTestEnvironment::project_id(),
                                    TableTestEnvironment::instance_id(),
                                    TableTestEnvironment::table_id()));