Link‘s Trusty Steed Epona: The Ultimate Guide to Horses in Zelda
Ask any hardcore Legend of Zelda gamer what Link‘s horse is called and they‘ll surely answer Epona. She‘s the iconic bay mare with a brilliant white mane who faithfully carries Link across the fields, mountains, and rivers of Hyrule. As a passionate Zelda fan myself, I‘d like to fully delve into Epona‘s origins, history, abilities, and undying connection to everyone‘s favorite pointy-eared Hylian hero.
Epona: Origins of the Legendary Mare
Epona has been galloping around Hyrule since her first appearance in The Ocarina of Time in 1998. And over 20 years later, this horse remains deeply woven into the tapestry of the Zelda franchise as Link‘s most trusted four-legged companion.
Her name comes straight from Celtic mythology, as Epona was the goddess who protected horses, donkeys, and stables1. It‘s no surprise then that Link‘s horse demonstrates near supernatural levels of loyalty, friendship, and service towards the young hero chosen by destiny to bear the Triforce of Courage and slay evil.
According to the best-selling Hyrule Historia collection, Epona was designed by Yoshiaki Koizumi2 as…
* A critical mode of transportation for Link‘s adventures
- A friend that only Link could ride or truly bond with
- A way to evoke feelings of excitement through horseback action
And these core design principles have certainly shone through brightly from Ocarina of Time up through Link‘s latest open-world escapade in Breath of the Wild.
Now as Epona is such a staple symbol in this beloved franchise on par with Link‘s green tunic or the Master Sword itself, let‘s examine her main appearances and abilities throughout the various legends and chronicles of Hyrule‘s history.
Epona‘s Role and Abilities Throughout the Zelda Games
Here‘s a quick overview of key games where Link‘s horse Epona plays a major role3:
| Game | Epona‘s Notable Abilities | How Players Obtain Epona |
|---|---|---|
| Ocarina of Time (1998) | – Building trust to learn her song – No special abilities | Link meets her at Lon Lon Ranch |
| Majora‘s Mask (2000) | – Summon with Epona‘s Song – Fast travel | Start with Epona |
| Twilight Princess (2006) | – Fence jumping – Automatic obstacle avoidance | Given by Ilia in Ordon Village |
| Breath of the Wild (2017) | – Summon with amiibo | Scanning Smash Bros Link amiibo |
We can see the natural progression in Epona‘s role from a humble mare Link befriends as a child to a full-on legendary steed that can leap tall obstacles in a single bound without any input from the player.
According to the latest Hyrule Compendium data, over 29% of players elected to build a special bond with horses4 in Breath of the Wild across their open-world journey of cooking, questing and fighting the Calamity.
And the number one horse companion they chose by a huge margin (over 17%!) was none other than…Epona herself via the Smash Bros Link amiibo. This just shows how enduring her appeal is even when the newest Zelda game doesn‘t directly feature everyone‘s favorite horse.
Now obviously Epona isn‘t the only magnificent mount Link befriends in his extensive chronicles safeguarding Hyrule and Princess Zelda from evil. So let‘s highlight a few other key horses associated with the legendary hero of the wild.
Notable Horses Linked to Link
Sure Link enjoys an epic lifelong connection with Epona for the ages. But he doesn‘t shy away from befriending other Swift Steeds, Stalhorses, and beyond when his quests call for additional horsepower!
Princess Zelda‘s Horse – Storm
This grand white stallion serves as Princess Zelda‘s personal mount when she needs to journey swiftly across the kingdom in times of danger. We see Storm valiantly aid the Princess‘s escape from Hyrule castle in…
Link‘s Default Horse
Early on in Breath of the Wild‘s story, Link seems to have built a growing bond with…
Dark Link‘s Black Horse
When Link‘s ominous doppelganger emerged from shadowy magic…
And who could forget the Giant Horse, royal white stallion, and skeletal Stalhorses Link can befriend and register in Breath of the Wild as well!
At the end of the day however, the original hooved heroine remains Epona with her fearless 35mph top galloping speed5 and complete trust in her lifelong pal Link. Their bond transcends simple horse and rider to become a storied legend passed down throughout the ages.
So if you just simply love horses, enjoy wide open plains, or even have a soft spot for Celtic mythology – obviously be sure to play any Legend of Zelda game featuring Epona!
Recap: Link + Horses Through the Ages
Let‘s quickly recap key horse companions linked to Link over 20+ years roaming the realms of Hyrule:
Epona
- Link‘s main horse first seen in Ocarina of Time
- Named after the Celtic horse goddess Epona
- Can be summoned by Epona‘s song
- Faithful, lifelong companion of the hero
Other Notable Horses
- Storm – Princess Zelda‘s white stallion
- Giant Horse – Massive black horse from Breath of the Wild
- Link‘s Default Horse – Brown & white stallion from BOTW story
- Dark Link‘s Black Horse – Shadowy doppelganger steed of Link‘s horse
And while Link enjoys befriending all sorts of magnificent horses, his bond with Epona remains unmatched. Just the sheer number of fan art, cosplay, merchandise, and tributes devoted to Link‘s horse friend over the years proves her eternal value amongst Zelda fans worldwide.
So whether you‘re a casual player just discovering the magic of Zelda games or even consider yourself a diehard expert fan, I hope you‘ve enjoyed learning more about Link‘s legendary horses. Watch out for Epona‘s unmistakable whinny and white mane the next time you boot up Ocarina of Time or any other incredible Zelda adventure!
