Horse varieties in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom are extensive and it may be frustrating for new players who cannot import their saved horses from Breath of the Wild. However, the kingdom of Hyrule is vast, and traversing it in the early game is quite a challenge for players.
Only if they pool up their Zonai Materials can they create vehicles that shorten the traveling time by a considerable margin. Until then, mounts like horses are the best bet when it comes to exploration. With the addition of four extra stable slots, players can collect unique horses that can come to their aid on a quick and easy call. Hence, choosing the perfect steed for Link’s adventure is essential for the game.
7 Stalhorses
- Strength: N/A
- Speed: N/A
- Stamina: N/A
- Pull: N/A
- Temperament: N/A
Stalhorses are essentially skeleton horses that can be found in the depths, under the surface of the kingdom of Hyrule. Their appearance attracts a lot of players into mounting them, but unfortunately, their bones crumble down once they come in contact with sunlight. Moreover, they cannot be registered at any stable.
This leaves little room for usability when it comes to the Stalhorse except for using them as temporary steeds while exploring the depths while passively avoiding damage by the Gloom. They can be found near Sinonoyk Lightroot, but exclusively at nighttime.
6 Wild Horses
- Strength: Varies
- Speed: Varies
- Stamina: Varies
- Pull: Varies
- Temperament: Varies
Wild horses are not rare at all and can be found in several fields or grasslands. They allow for quick and easy means of transport during the game's early stages. Sneaking up behind them is by far the easiest method of mounting and taming them. However, their stats are randomized and cannot be viewed until registered at the stables.
They are available in a wide array of colors and patterns but choosing coats with one solid color tends to have better results when it comes to stats than patterned ones. Hence, registering solid-coated wild horses which have spawned in dangerous areas increases the probability of receiving decent stats.
5 Spot
- Strength: 4/5
- Stamina: 3/5
- Speed: 3/5
- Pull: 2/5
- Temperament: Wild
Spot has a unique appearance that consists of dark spots on a white coat. No other horse has this particular design, and it’s easily recognizable in the Zelda community. Underneath all that, however, lies an average stat line that makes Spot an odd choice for players in the late game.
One can obtain Spot by completing the quest called “Spotting Spot,” where Link decides to bring back a runaway horse of a mini-stable proprietor named Lester. Spot can be found near the southwestern side of Lookout Landing. Taming him and returning to Lester opens up the option of registering him in the stables.
4 Giant White Stallion
- Strength: 5
- Speed: 2
- Stamina: N/A
- Pull: N/A
- Temperament: Wild
The Giant Horse from Breath of the Wild has gone through a natural lighter re-shade in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to create the Giant White Stallion. Taming this beast of a horse requires roughly two and a half wheels of stamina, and it is recommended to use Stamina-enhancing items before attempting it.
Two of the biggest drawbacks of using this steed is essentially its inability to sprint and pull carriages. Hence, Stamina and Pull statistics are unavailable for the Great White Stallion. However, it tries to make up for it by inherently being Stronger than any other horse in the game. Finding it requires players to visit the Lake of the Horse God and cross the Horse God Bridge to a secluded lake.
3 Giant Horse (Ganon’s Horse)
- Strength: 5
- Speed: 2
- Stamina: N/A
- Pull: N/A
- Temperament: Wild
Other than the Giant White Stallion, The Giant Horse is the only unique horse of their size. Its appearance, however, struck a chord with fans of the Zelda series. It is strikingly similar to Ganondorf’s horse in the Nintendo 64 release, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Sadly, it has not been connected to Ganondorf in this timeline.
Functionally, it is similar to the Giant White Stallion as well. It is unable to sprint or pull but excels in Strength. Hence, it is definitely a worthy battle-steed. It can be tamed at Hateno Beach or transferred from one’s Breadth Of The Wild savefile.
2 Epona
- Strength: 4
- Speed: 4
- Stamina: 4
- Pull: N/A
- Temperament: Gentle
In the Legend of Zelda community, Epona needs no introduction. It is Link’s signature horse and is named after the Celtic goddess of horses. Epona features an amazingly balanced stat spread. Pull mechanics have not been implemented for Epona, making it essential for players to have separate steeds in the stable for pulling.
However, utilizing such an iconic horse isn't as straightforward as fans may think. Players have to scan the Smash Bros. Link amiibo or the Twilight Princess Link amiibo. This can easily be bypassed, but only if one has a Breath of the Wild savefile handy.
1 Zelda’s Golden Horse
- Strength: 4
- Speed: 4
- Stamina: 3
- Pull: 2
- Temperament: Gentle
Zelda’s Golden Horse outshines other horses not only with its shiny coat but also with its stats. It has a relatively similar performance when compared to Epona while lacking in Stamina for a point. However, it retains the pulling ability, which grants an advantage in overall usability.
It is the complete package when it comes to horses and if one decides to look past the iconic status of Epona, this steed is essential for every Tears of the Kingdom player. Starting the “Lucky Clover Gazette” side quest and heading over toward the north of Snowfield Stable ensures a chance at taming this majestic horse.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available for Nintendo Switch.