How to Claim Epona as Your Ride in the New Ocarina of Time Remake
To obtain Epona in the remake, players must first reach Adult Link and visit Lon Lon Ranch after completing the Temple of Time. Speaking with Malon triggers a sidequest where she teaches Link 'Epona's Song' via the ocarina. After returning as Adult Link, playing the song near Epona allows her to be tamed and ridden across Hyrule.
In the 2026 remake of *The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time*, players can obtain Epona, the iconic horse, by completing a specific sidequest after reaching Adult Link status. The process begins when Child Link visits Lon Lon Ranch—renamed Ingo Ranch in the remake—after finishing the Temple of Time and the Princess of Hyrule Castle storyline. There, Malon teaches Link “Epona’s Song” via the ocarina, marking the start of a sidequest that remains inactive until Adult Link returns. Once transformed, players must return to the ranch, pay 20 rupees to ride any horse, and then play Epona’s Song near the pen. This causes the fully grown Epona to approach, allowing the player to mount her. A subsequent race challenge with Ingo follows: winning the first race earns 20 rupees, but winning the second—after Ingo locks the gate—grants ownership of Epona. To escape, players must charge at full speed toward the gate and jump over it, triggering a cutscene that confirms Epona as a permanent mount. The horse can then be summoned anytime using Epona’s Song.
This questline reflects a long-standing tradition in *Zelda* games where player progression unlocks emotional or mechanical rewards tied to narrative milestones. Malon’s role as Epona’s caretaker and the song-based taming mechanic are faithful to the original, but the remake enhances interactivity by integrating the race challenge and gate-locking sequence, adding tension and reward. The developers at Nintendo, known for balancing nostalgia
The inclusion of Epona as a reward for completing a narrative- and skill-based sidequest could reinforce player investment in story-driven progression, particularly among fans of open-world RPGs. This mechanic may influence future game design by emphasizing emotional attachment to companions through earned access rather than direct purchase. The race challenge with Ingo introduces risk and reward dynamics that could inspire similar mini-games in other franchises aiming to deepen player engagement. Comparable to the original *Ocarina of Time*’s impact on gaming culture—where Epona became a symbol of player achievement—this remake may reignite interest in classic titles among new generations. The success of this update could also affect how publishers approach remakes, potentially favoring narrative fidelity with modernized mechanics over pure visual upgrades. What to watch for next is whether Nintendo will expand Epona’s role in future games or use her as a marketing symbol across platf