Can You Ride Epona as a Kid? Exploring Epona’s Availability in Ocarina of Time
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The short answer is a bit tricky: Technically, no, you cannot freely ride Epona as a kid in the original Ocarina of Time without exploiting glitches or unintended mechanics. While you can trigger a cutscene with Epona as a child and learn Epona’s Song, you can’t mount her and explore Hyrule on horseback.
Here’s why: Epona is intrinsically linked to Adult Link. The game mechanics are designed such that you first meet Epona as a child and learn her song, but you can only truly ride her and call her across Hyrule Field after you become Adult Link. This is tied to the storyline and the fact that Adult Link needs Epona to escape Lon Lon Ranch from Ingo.
The ability to ride Epona as a child is a popular topic of discussion among players, and various glitches and exploits have been discovered over the years that allow for this, but they were never intended to be part of the normal gameplay.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Epona
Here are some frequently asked questions to explore all aspects of Epona and the mechanics of interacting with her as both Child and Adult Link:
How do I get Epona in Ocarina of Time?
To get Epona in Ocarina of Time, follow these steps:
- Become Adult Link: You must first pull the Master Sword from the Pedestal of Time to travel seven years into the future.
- Go to Lon Lon Ranch: As Adult Link, return to Lon Lon Ranch.
- Speak to Ingo: Talk to Ingo, who now runs the ranch after Ganondorf’s takeover. Agree to pay 10 rupees to ride a horse.
- Play Epona’s Song: Play Epona’s Song while riding a horse. Epona will come to you.
- Ride Epona: Ride Epona and speak to Ingo again. He will offer to sell her to you for 200 rupees.
- Race and Win: If you don’t have the money, challenge Ingo to a race. If you win the race twice, Ingo will lock you inside the ranch. Use Epona to jump over the fences and escape, claiming her as your own.
What is Epona’s Song, and how do I learn it?
Epona’s Song is a crucial melody that allows you to summon Epona. You learn it as Child Link at Lon Lon Ranch. After meeting Princess Zelda, Malon will appear in the middle of the corral. Talk to her three times, and then pull out your Ocarina. She will teach you the song. This is essential for later obtaining Epona as Adult Link. The melody is: Up, Left, Right, Up, Left, Right.
Can you get Epona without racing Ingo?
While the standard method involves racing Ingo, there is a glitch that allows you to obtain Epona without it. By touching specific loading zones usually only accessible by riding Epona, you can trigger a cutscene that shows Link jumping into Hyrule Field on Epona. This bypasses the need to race Ingo. However, this is considered an exploit and not the intended gameplay.
What items can Child Link use that Adult Link cannot?
Child Link has access to items crucial for solving puzzles in his portion of the game that Adult Link cannot use. These include:
- Kokiri Sword
- Deku Shield
- Magic Beans
- Fairy Slingshot
- Deku Stick
- Boomerang
How do I switch between Child Link and Adult Link?
After completing the Forest Temple, you can switch between Child Link and Adult Link by returning to the Temple of Time and placing the Master Sword back into the Pedestal of Time to revert to Child Link. To become Adult Link again, simply draw the Master Sword from the pedestal.
Can you get Epona’s Song as Adult Link?
No, you must obtain Epona’s Song as Child Link. Once you’ve progressed to Adult Link without learning the song, you’ll need to travel back in time as Child Link (after completing the Forest Temple) to learn it from Malon at Lon Lon Ranch.
What happens if Epona dies in Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom?
In Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, if Epona is obtained via amiibo and then dies, she can be revived by Malanya, the Horse God. You can find Malanya in the Akkala region in the Spring of the Horse God. Unlike other horses, Epona does not need to be tamed when summoned by the amiibo.
Is Epona the best horse in Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom?
Epona is a highly desirable horse in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, primarily due to her stats and the fact that she is obtained through the Smash Bros. Link amiibo. She typically spawns with maximum stats in strength, speed, and stamina, making her an exceptional mount.
Who owns Epona in the Zelda series?
While Epona’s ownership varies slightly across different Zelda titles, she is most often associated with Link. In Ocarina of Time, Link develops a bond with Epona at Lon Lon Ranch. In Twilight Princess, she is owned by Link from the start. The core connection between Link and Epona remains consistent.
How old is Link in Ocarina of Time as Adult Link?
In Ocarina of Time, Link’s age as Adult Link is generally considered to be around 16-17 years old. He begins the game as a child and then travels seven years into the future, aging him significantly.
What is Link’s approximate height as Adult Link?
According to various sources and measurements within the game environments, Adult Link’s height is approximately 1.7 meters, which translates to roughly 5 feet 7 inches.
What is the origin of Epona’s name?
Epona’s name has Celtic origins. In Celtic, “epos” means “horse,” and the suffix “-ona” is added. Epona is also the name of a Gallic goddess associated with horses, mares, and foals.
Can Zelda turn back into a human if she becomes a dragon in Tears of the Kingdom?
Yes, in Tears of the Kingdom, Zelda does return to her human form after Link defeats Ganondorf. Although Mineru initially states that draconification is irreversible, the spirits of Rauru and Sonia assist Link in restoring Zelda.
What is the significance of the Games Learning Society?
The Games Learning Society aims to understand and harness the potential of games for educational and social purposes. The intersection of gameplay mechanics and learning principles is a fascinating area explored by researchers and practitioners. The Games Learning Society, accessible at GamesLearningSociety.org, explores the applications of gaming for educational and social impact.
Does Link have a romantic relationship with Zelda?
The nature of the relationship between Link and Zelda is often a topic of debate among fans. While there is no explicitly confirmed romantic relationship in the Zelda canon, it is generally accepted that Link and Zelda share a deep, caring bond that can be interpreted as romantic by some players. The developers often leave the exact nature of their relationship open to interpretation.