An axial piston pump has a rotor rotatable around an axis relative to a swashplate; one or more pistons movable within one or more respective sleeves; a fluid inlet port for the inflow of low pressure fluid, and a fluid outlet port for the outflow of high pressure fluid; and a floating element axially positioned between, on the one side, the inlet and outlet ports and, on the other side, a sealing surface of the rotor. Surfaces of the floating element defining an inlet chamber and the outlet chamber are configured such that, in use, the low pressure fluid and the high pressure fluid act on the defining surfaces to produce a net axial force which the axially slidable floating element applies to the rotor to seal the floating element to the sealing surface of the rotor.