Zora

A Zora from Twilight Princess.
Zora
Type	Zora
Debut	The Legend of Zelda

Zoras are scaley humanoids who can breathe above and below water. They spend most of their times in water, and some have magical powers. The Zoras are split into separate types of creatures. The hostile monsters from the early games and the peaceful mermen of the later games. The two types have only ever been seen together in The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages. In this game they are distinguished as being the Sea Zora and River Zora (though this choice of habitat is not accurate in other games).

Sea Zora

Sea Zoras are peaceful inhabitants of the ocean. Some are built to be warriors, but others are portly and less mobile. The thinner Zoras are adept swimmers. Some can shoot out their fins as boomerang-like projectiles, and other Zoras can use magic power to surround themselves with a protective shield.

In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time the Sea Zoras are loyal to Hyrule's king and so live in Zora's Domain, where they guard the source of Hyrule's water. They are friendly to Link in the game and provide him with a special scale that allows him to hold his breath longer, as well as a Blue Tunic that allows him to go underwater and not need to breathe.

Sea Zoras are also seen living in the Zora Sea of Labrynna in Oracle of Ages, but they seem to be seeking a new domain as well- in a linked The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons Link encounters a Sea Zora who is scouting Holodrum for a potential new domain with little success.

Zoras are also abundant in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, where they live at Zora Bay. There is also a famous Zora band called the Indigo-Gos. Link could assume the form of an Sea Zora whenever he put on the Zora Mask. Even more interesting is the variety of Zoras in the band, especially Tijo who looks like a manta ray. Also Evan, who has dark brown skin compared to the normal light blue skin.

Although oddly absent from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, they reappear again in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. In the game, Queen Rutela has recently passed away. Furthermore, Prince Ralis had gone missing as well. Thanks to Link, Ralis was returned to the Zora Domain and took the throne. Interestingly enough, the soldiers used masks that resembled the monster River Zoras of early games.

Two Sea Zoras have become Sages- Princess Ruto became the Water Sage, while Laruto later became the Earth Sage.

River Zora

A Zora in Zelda II

The river Zoras are angry Zoras who live in the rivers and lakes of Hyrule, Koholint, Labrynna and Holodrum. These Zoras simply pop out of their watery homes to spit fireballs at any passerby. In Zelda II: The Adventure of Link they are also found on the plains and caves where they crawl around on the ground on all fours.

The River Zoras are hunched over and more evil-looking then the elegant Sea Zoras. They are also greedy. In The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past their king sells flippers to Link and lets him use his waterways for 500 rupees. Despite this dealing with Link, he doesn't do anything to discourage his subjects from attacking Link (or vice versa).

In The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, Link meets a Zora who is hidden in a house in the Animal Village. The creature could only be seen by using the Magnifying Lens. After meeting, a picture was taken of the two to commemorate the event.

Trivia

• The Rito are believed to have possible evolved from the Zoras. This is due to the fact Medli is indicated as the descendant of Laruto, a Zora.
• When the Fairy Queen was split in two during The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, the two halves took the forms of River Zoras.
• In the English Legend of Zelda manual, they were described as being 'half woman and half fish'.
• In the official artwork for River Zoras in the A Link to the Past Player's Guide, they are depicted as having a fish tail in place of legs.