Unlocking Epona in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of the most rewarding side quests in Nintendo history. Having a reliable steed makes traversing the vast expanse of Hyrule Field much faster and grants access to special areas later in the game. Follow this step-by-step walkthrough to ensure you do not miss any critical requirements during your journey.
Learning Epona's Song as Child Link
Your quest for Epona begins during the early child era after meeting Princess Zelda. Travel to Lon Lon Ranch located at the center of Hyrule Field and find Malon standing inside the horse corral. Talk to her until she mentions her song, then pull out your instrument to learn the tune.
Playing this melody establishes a bond with the young foal. Once learned, this song serves as the essential call to summon Epona whenever you visit the ranch later in life. Make sure you complete this step before advancing the story into the adult timeline.
Returning to Lon Lon Ranch as Adult Link
After pulling the Master Sword and growing into Adult Link, return to Lon Lon Ranch to find that Ingo has taken over. Speak to Ingo near the entrance and pay him 10 Rupees to ride a horse in the corral. Once inside the riding area, pull out your ocarina and play the song you learned as a child.
Epona will recognize the familiar melody and immediately run toward you. Mount her and spend a few moments getting used to her movement controls. You can practice using carrots for speed boosts while galloping around the track.
Challenging Ingo to Horse Races
While still mounted on Epona, approach Ingo to challenge him to a horse race for 50 Rupees. Focus on staying on the inside track to maintain the shortest path around the ring. Use your carrots strategically for quick bursts of speed, but avoid depleting them all at once.
Upon losing, an angry Ingo will demand a rematch with Epona herself as the grand prize. Race him a second time using the same inside-track strategy to claim victory. Outsmarting Ingo secures ownership of the legendary mare once and for all.
Escaping Lon Lon Ranch with Epona
Furious at his defeat, Ingo locks the main gates of the ranch to prevent you from leaving with the horse. To escape, build up Epona's speed using a carrot and head directly toward one of the outer walls. Epona will automatically leap over the barrier and land safely in Hyrule Field.
With the ranch behind you, Epona is now permanently yours to ride across the kingdom. Simply play her melody anywhere in the overworld to call her to your side. Enjoy fast travel, effortless barrier jumps, and mounted combat throughout your quest.
