Named Horses Guide — All Special & Unique Horses in TotK
Overview
Beyond the standard wild horses roaming Hyrule's plains, Tears of the Kingdom features several unique named or special horses with fixed stats and distinct appearances. These horses cannot be found through normal herd spawns — each requires a specific quest, location, or unlock method. This guide covers every named horse, where to find them, and what makes each one worth pursuing.
All Named & Special Horses
The Giant Horse
The Giant Horse is a massive brown-and-black steed found in the Taobab Grassland south of the Gerudo Desert (coordinates roughly -3778, -3388, 0049). It is significantly larger than any standard horse and features unique stats:
| Stat | Rating | |------|--------| | Speed | 2 stars | | Stamina | Infinite (no spurts) | | Strength | 5 stars | | Pull | 5 stars |
The Giant Horse cannot sprint with spurs — it has no stamina circles — but its raw strength and pull make it unstoppable for combat scenarios and hauling. Taming it requires multiple successful soothing inputs before it accepts Link as a rider. It cannot be registered without completing the tame.
The White Horse (Royal White Stallion)
The White Horse is tied to a side quest originating at Outskirt Stable from an NPC named Toffa. The horse roams Safula Hill west of Hyrule Castle (approximate coordinates -2122, -0001, 0141). Its stats:
| Stat | Rating | |------|--------| | Speed | 4 stars | | Stamina | 4 circles | | Strength | 4 stars | | Pull | 4 stars |
This is a genuinely well-rounded horse and one of the best in the game for general use. Completing the quest unlocks the Royal Bridle and Royal Saddle for it.
Zelda's Golden Horse
Zelda's Golden Horse is found during a side adventure at Snowfield Stable in Hebra. A Stable Hand named Harlow asks you to find a horse matching a golden description. The horse spawns near the North Tabantha Snowfield. Stats are randomized but always at least 4-star speed.
Returning it to Harlow unlocks the Traveler's Bridle and Traveler's Saddle — items with a lore connection to Zelda's journeys.
Epona
Epona is Link's legendary companion from Ocarina of Time and can be unlocked in TotK via a Super Smash Bros. Link amiibo. When scanned, Epona appears directly next to Link fully tamed. Her fixed stats are:
| Stat | Rating | |------|--------| | Speed | 4 stars | | Stamina | 4 circles | | Strength | 4 stars | | Pull | 4 stars |
Epona comes pre-equipped with the Epona's Bridle and Epona's Saddle. She cannot be obtained any other way — there is no in-game alternative. The amiibo can only summon her once per save file.
Stalhorse
The Stalhorse is not a registerable horse but a rideable undead skeleton steed that spawns in the Hebra Mountains and Akkala Highlands at night. It disappears at sunrise. You cannot register it at a stable or keep it permanently, but riding one is a fun environmental encounter and relevant to a minor side quest.
Tips for Named Horses
- Always approach named horses slowly in a crouch to avoid spooking them
- The Giant Horse requires particularly persistent soothing — budget at least 3-4 soothing inputs
- Epona's amiibo can be scanned once; if she dies, Malanya can revive her like any registered horse
- The White Horse quest reward saddle and bridle are purely cosmetic — they do not affect stats
- Named horses occupy a normal stable slot; make sure you have room before taming
Horse Accessories — Saddles and Bridles
Each named horse can be equipped with unique gear that (mostly cosmetic) matches its lore identity:
| Horse | Unlockable Gear | How to Unlock | |-------|----------------|---------------| | White Horse | Royal Bridle + Royal Saddle | Complete the Royal White Stallion side quest | | Zelda's Golden Horse | Traveler's Bridle + Traveler's Saddle | Return to Harlow after finding the horse | | Epona | Epona's Bridle + Epona's Saddle | Pre-equipped on amiibo summon | | Giant Horse | Monster Bridle + Monster Saddle | Complete Tame It challenge at Highland Stable | | Any horse | Various decorative saddles | Pony Points rewards |
Stat note: Bridles and saddles in TotK are cosmetic — they do not change the horse's speed, stamina, or strength. They change the visual appearance only. Choose based on preference.
Pony Points — Stable Rewards
Pony Points are accumulated by stabling, grooming, and feeding horses at stables. Each interaction earns points. Rewards from the Points exchange at the Stable Trotters / stable NPCs include:
| Reward | Points Required | Notes | |--------|----------------|-------| | Stylish Bridle | 50 | Mid-tier cosmetic | | Extravagant Bridle | 75 | High-end cosmetic | | Snowflake Bridle | 100 | Hebra region aesthetic | | Royal Bridle (alt unlock) | — | Quest-locked, not Points | | Travel Medallion | 200 | Allows setting a custom fast travel point | | Customization Meals | 100 | Feed items that change horse color |
The Travel Medallion is the highest-value Pony Points reward — it lets you place a custom fast travel marker anywhere on the surface map. Interact with stables regularly to accumulate points passively.
Stable Management
TotK allows 6 registered horse slots total across all stables (a shared pool, not per-stable).
Slot allocation for named horse collectors:
| Slot | Recommended Horse | |------|-------------------| | 1 | Main riding horse (high-speed personal pick) | | 2 | White Horse (all-purpose backup) | | 3 | Giant Horse (combat/hauling scenarios) | | 4 | Zelda's Golden Horse (exploration aesthetics) | | 5 | Epona (amiibo summon — keep registered) | | 6 | Reserve slot for a temporary wild horse |
If you want all 4 named special horses + Epona, that leaves 1 slot for a personal horse. The White Horse's 4-stat balance makes it an excellent main rider if you prefer named horses across the board.
Horse Combat Mechanics
Horses in TotK interact with mounted combat in specific ways:
- Mounted archery: Draw bow while riding = normal slow-mo aim (same as on foot). Horses are stable platforms for mounted archery.
- Mounted melee: Swing a weapon from horseback deals a mounted slash. Giant Horse's strength multiplies this.
- Charging through enemies: The Giant Horse's bulk causes knockback on contact — useful for clearing Bokoblin camps.
- Enemy detection: Horses spook when enemies are near — they will bolt in a random direction if not calmed. Use soothing inputs to maintain control in combat zones.
The Giant Horse in combat: Its 5-star strength means it deals meaningful collision damage when ridden into enemies. It's a genuine combat tool, not just a cosmetic.
Related Guides
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
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