Epona – The Legendary Horse Companion of Link
In the magical land of Hyrule, the brave hero Link relies on his noble steed Epona to overcome obstacles and save Princess Zelda from demise. Appearing across numerous titles, Epona is Link‘s trusted mount that provides speed, endurance, and emotional support through his adventure-filled journey.
Epona‘s Storied History
Epona was introduced in the genre-defining Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64 in 1998. Designed by Yoshiaki Koizumi, Epona is inspired by the Celtic goddess of fertility and protector of horses, lending mythical weight behind the name.
As a bay mare with a cream mane and tail, Epona possesses natural speed and stamina necessary to carry Link across Hyrule Field‘s sprawling plains and rocky terrain. But she serves a greater purpose beyond a mode of transportation – Epona fosters an unbreakable bond as Link‘s companion, which the player directly strengthens through activities like herding cattle and carrot feedings.
This relationship manifests symbolically when Epona immediately heeds Link‘s call via the titular Ocarina. As Nintendo Power described, "Link‘s trusty steed arrives out of nowhere whenever he plays Epona‘s Song on his ocarina…Epona has exceptional speed and jumping ability, enabling Link to travel great distances in a hurry."
Epona lends her services to Link in later adventures, including:
- Majora‘s Mask (2000)
- The Minish Cap (2004)
- Twilight Princess (2006)
- Breath of the Wild (2017)
But no appearance encapsulates the sheer emotion she‘s capable of evoking from players than her breakout role in Ocarina of Time.
Why Epona Matters
On paper, Epona bolsters Link‘s mobility. But her deeper significance stems from theattachments players invariably form. As IGN remarked in their Breath of the Wild review:
"I found myself grateful to have Epona specifically; not just for the burst of nostalgia sparked from hearing that familiar refrain…but also for the simple act of seeing this beloved horse again after so many years apart."
Through patiently building trust early on before galloping into sunsets together, players feel emotionally invested in Epona‘s well-being. Rather than treat her as a disposable tool, Epona transforms into an irreplaceable member of the journey.
This sentiment persists in the larger public consciousness even outside the games. Fans fondly reminisce about Epona memories decades later and eagerly discuss her cameos in non-canon material, be it the Phillips CD-i animations or the obscure Link‘s Crossbow Training.
Fan art depicting Link with his heroic steed Epona (via Zelda Dungeon)
Word of Epona‘s reappearance elicits excitement exemplifying her profound impact. Such nostalgia and relevance 20+ years later cements Epona‘s status as an all-time iconic video game animal companion.
But the numbers speak loudest. Epona is the 2nd most popular Zelda character behind Link himself based on cumulative Google search traffic. And she ranks 12th among all video game horses according to Ranker voters.
Epona has maintained immense popularity over the years (Google Trends)
Epona has won multiple fan polls asking for her inclusion as a Super Smash Bros playable fighter. She even became an elusive amiibo figure in 2017 solidifying her stance in the Nintendo pantheon.
Very few elements of the Zelda franchise inspire such long-lasting adoration. But Epona has undoubtedly secured her place amongst Nintendo‘s hallowed elite of beloved icons. She‘ll continue galloping straight into our hearts for generations upon generations to come.
