Epona

Link tending to Epona in Ocarina of Time.
Epona
Species	Horse
Hair color	White
Eye color	Blue
Debut	Ocarina of Time

Epona is a horse who has appeared in several The Legend of Zelda games, where she most commonly acts as Link's steed. Epona was first included in Ocarina of Time to introduce horseriding gameplay to the series. Epona is further associated with Malon and Lon Lon Ranch in most of the games.

Background

The Hero of Time's Horse

In Ocarina of Time, Epona was initially shown as a filly at the same time that Link and Malon were children. Epona was initially standoffish and would only let Marlon near. Epona did grow to like Link after he learned how to play Epona's Song.

Adult Timeline

Over the next seven years, Epona grew into a wild and untameable horse. She would only let Malon ride her and never obeyed Ingo, whom had taken over the ranch and wanted to give the horse to Ganondorf. Once Link arrived, he could use Epona to race against Ingo, with Epona's ownership on the line. Link won the race, and Ingo bitterly attempted to go back on his promise by sealing off the exits to the ranch. Link was still able to escape by having Epona leap a fence. Epona was primarily used to help Link navigate across Hyrule Field, and she was summoned by playing Epona's Song on Link's ocarina.

After Link saved Hyrule, Epona was seemingly returned to Lon Lon Ranch.

Child Timeline

At the end of Ocarina of Time, Link was sent back to his childhood years, which started a new timeline. Soon afterwards, Link borrowed the young Epona from Lon Lon Ranch when he set off on his personal journey to find Navi. In the beginning of Majora's Mask, the Skull Kid kidnapped Epona and tried to ride her to Termina until she ran away. She found refuge at Romani Ranch with Romani and Cremia, the Terminian counterparts of her former owner Malon. Epona was later found by Link, and she continued to give him rides across Termina until they fulfilled their adventure there. They then continued journeying through the Lost Woods.

The Hero of Twilight's Horse

In Twilight Princess (set in the future of the child timeline), Link owned Epona from the beginning, and they lived in Ordon Village. Link used Epona to herd animals for Fado at the Ordon Ranch. Illia was particularly fond of Epona and became angry whenever Epona was injured after Link rode him.

Epona was scared off when Ordon was attacked by Bulblins, but she was reunited with Link at Kakariko Village. Link could summon Epona by humming Epona's Song through a special grass whistle and later through a horse call made by Illia. Epona played a more important role in this game, as Link engaged in several horseback battles from Epona's back throughout the adventure. Additionally, Link could speak to Epona in wolf form. She was the only one to recognize that the wolf was Link, and urged him to find a way to restore himself to normal.

Minor Appearances

Epona also appears in The Minish Cap, the only game so far in which Link does not ride her. In this game Malon uses Epona to carry her load of milk to Hyrule Castle Town. When he's Minish size, Link can even talk to Epona and fuse Kinstones with her. Due to the game's chronological placement, this is actually the first known incarnation of a horse named Epona.

In Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, Epona could appear in the game after scanning a Super Smash Bros. or Twilight Princess Link amiibo. Epona was automatically tame, with four stars in all statistics and a gentle temperament. When taken to a stable, the stable keeper will begin to give the option of naming the horse, only to stop upon realizing that Epona was the "Horse of Legend" and should not be renamed. If the player had Epona registered at a stable in Breath of the Wild, that save data would carry over to the stable in Tears of the Kingdom so that Link would automatically have Epona upon speaking to someone at a stable.

In Other Zelda Games

In the Twilight Princess-inspired Link's Crossbow Training, one level was Horseback Target Practice, in which Link had to shoot down targets while riding Epona.

Epona also appeared in Hyrule Warriors, where Link rode the horse as part of his battle start and victory animations. Epona was also available as an unlockable weapon class through DLC in the Wii U version or through Adventure Mode in the later versions of the game. When this weapon was equipped, Link would perpetually ride Epona on the battlefield while still using a sword to battle. Epona had an original Hyrule Warriors design, but Epona's designs from Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess were also available as alternate 'weapons' in that class.

Other Appearances

Video Games

• In the Super Smash Bros. series, Epona has been represented by a sticker in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, a trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and an Ace-rank Support Spirit (which increases attack power and speed when undamaged) in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The sticker and Spirit both use art of Epona being ridden by Link from Ocarina of Time.
• In Animal Crossing: New Leaf, a bipedal, talking version of Epona could appear at the campground following the Welcome Amiibo update, and she could be invited to live at the town after one of several Zelda-related amiibos (of Sheik, Ocarina of Time Link, Link Rider or Majora's Mask Link) is scanned. She has a peppy personality, and her given birthdate is the release date of Ocarina of Time.

Trivia

• Epona was the name of a goddess of Celtic origins; in Roman mythology she was the goddess of horses, donkeys, and mules.
• In Twilight Princess, it is possible to change Epona's name in the same way that Link's name is chosen in every game. Epona still appears as the default name.
• Other games have featured unidentified horses which may or may not be Epona. Link is seen riding a small horse in the opening of the "Oracle" games. The four Links also ride a set of four horses from Lon Lon Ranch in Four Swords Adventures. There are also numerous horses that be found, tamed and registered with any name in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, though as mentioned above, the actual Epona is available in those games through an amiibo.