TotK Best Horses & Taming Guide
Everything you need to know about horses in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Find the best horses, learn how to tame them, understand stats, customize gear, and meet Malanya the Horse God. From the Giant Horse to Epona, this guide covers every mount in Hyrule.
How to Tame Horses in TotK
Taming horses in Tears of the Kingdom requires stealth, stamina, and patience. Every wild horse in Hyrule can be approached, mounted, and soothed — but the amount of effort depends on the horse's temperament and rarity. Here is the complete taming process.
1
Find a horse herd
Look for groups of horses grazing in open grasslands. Herds of 3-6 horses spawn in flat, grassy areas across Hyrule. The best early-game locations are Hyrule Field near Lookout Landing, the Faron Grasslands south of Lake Hylia, and the East Necluda plains near Dueling Peaks Stable.
2
Prepare for stealth
Equip stealth-boosting armor (Stealth Set from Kakariko Village) or eat a stealth-boosting meal (Silent Shroom + any meat). Crouching (press left stick) reduces your noise and visibility. Horses will spook and flee if they detect you approaching.
3
Approach from behind
Always approach a horse from directly behind. Horses have a wide forward field of view but limited rear awareness. Move slowly while crouching — stop if the horse's head snaps up or its ears perk, then wait for it to resume grazing.
4
Mount the horse
When you are close enough, a prompt appears to press A to mount. Link will leap onto the horse's back. The horse will immediately begin bucking.
5
Soothe the horse
Rapidly press L to soothe the horse while it bucks. This consumes stamina. Gentle horses require less than half a stamina wheel. Wild horses need about 1 wheel. Fierce horses need 1.5-2 wheels. The Giant Horse needs nearly 2 full wheels. You can eat stamina-restoring food mid-tame from the quick menu without dismounting.
6
Register at a stable
Once tamed, ride the horse to the nearest stable and talk to the attendant to register it (20 Rupees). Registration makes the horse permanently yours — you can board and retrieve it at any stable in Hyrule. You can register a name at this point.
7
Build bond through feeding
After registration, feed your horse apples, swift carrots, or endura carrots while riding or standing nearby to increase bond level. Higher bond improves steering responsiveness, especially for wild and fierce temperament horses.
Giant Horse
Speed
2
Stamina
0
Pull
5
Found at: Faron Grasslands, south of Lake Hylia
Zelda's Golden Horse
Speed
4
Stamina
3
Pull
3
Found at: Hyrule Field — quest reward from Lucky Clover Gazette
🏠 Lookout Landing Stable
Services
✓
Horse Registration
✓
Board & Retrieve
✓
Pony Points
✓
Side Quests
Nearby Points of Interest
⭐ Special NPC: Penn — Lucky Clover Gazette quest chain starts here
Horse Stats Comparison
56 horses
| Horse | Type | Speed | Pull | Stamina | Temperament | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Roan | Wild | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | gentle | Central Hyrule |
| Black Leopard | Wild | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | wild | Gerudo Highlands / Tabantha |
| Blue Roan | Wild | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | wild | Hebra Region |
| Blue-Gray Appaloosa | Wild | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | fierce | Hebra Snowfields / Tabantha |
| Brown Horse with White Mane | Wild | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | wild | Akkala / Lanayru Regions |
| Buckskin | Wild | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | gentle | Central Hyrule |
| Champagne | Wild | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | gentle | Faron Grasslands |
| Chestnut Horse with Stockings | Wild | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | gentle | Central Hyrule / Necluda |
| Chocolate Appaloosa | Wild | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | wild | Eldin / Akkala |
| Cremello (Near-White) Horse | Wild | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | gentle | Eldin / Akkala Regions |
| Dapple Gray | Wild | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | gentle | Eldin Region |
| Dark Bay Horse | Wild | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | wild | Tabantha Frontier / Hebra Foothills |
| Dark Chestnut | Wild | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | wild | Eldin / Akkala Forests |
| Epona | Unique | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | gentle | amiibo scan (any overworld location) |
| Fleabitten Gray | Wild | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | gentle | Lanayru / Necluda |
| Giant Horse | Unique | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | None | fierce | Faron Region |
| Giant White Stallion | Unique | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | wild | West Necluda / Lake of the Horse God area |
| Golden Horse (Zelda's Horse) | Unique | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | wild | Hyrule Field / Snowfield Stable area |
| Gray Speckled | Wild | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | gentle | Akkala / Lanayru |
| Gray Spotted Horse | Wild | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | wild | Central Hyrule / East Necluda |
| Grullo Dun | Wild | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | wild | Hebra / Tabantha |
| Highland Roan Horse | Wild | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | wild | Lanayru / Akkala Highlands |
| Iron Gray | Wild | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | wild | Akkala / Eldin Rocky Terrain |
| Lemon Palomino | Wild | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | wild | Central Hyrule / Zora River |
| Linebacked Dun | Wild | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | wild | Akkala / Eldin |
1–25 of 56
Giant Horse
Location
Faron Region
An enormous jet-black horse with a blazing orange mane that towers over every other mount in Hyrule. The Giant Horse is a direct descendant of Ganondorf's legendary war steed and is the largest rideable horse in Tears of the Kingdom. Its raw pulling power is unmatched at a perfect 5-star pull rating, but it sacrifices speed and stamina spurs entirely — it has zero spur slots and cannot gallop on command. Instead, it moves at a slow, crushing walk that can trample Bokoblins, Moblins, and small enemies underfoot. The Giant Horse is a statement mount and a lore-rich companion: riding it feels like commanding an ancient force of nature, unstoppable and unyielding. Its intimidating size alone causes weaker enemies to scatter.
Stats
Speed
★★☆☆☆
Pull
★★★★★
Stamina
None
Temperament: fierce
Unique Traits
•
Largest rideable horse in Hyrule — towers over all other mounts.
•
Maximum 5-star pull stat — the strongest horse in the game for hauling and trampling.
•
Zero stamina spurs — cannot gallop or sprint. Moves at a fixed powerful walking pace.
•
Can trample and instantly defeat Bokoblins, Blue Bokoblins, Moblins, and Chuchus on contact.
Location
Hyrule Field / Snowfield Stable area
A stunning golden-coated horse with a gleaming white mane, said to be a descendant of the royal horse ridden by Princess Zelda herself. This quest-locked unique mount is found at the end of the "Potential Princess Sightings" side quest chain and boasts excellent balanced stats — 4 speed, 3 pull, 3 stamina — making it one of the strongest all-around mounts in the game. Its golden coat is truly unique in all of Hyrule: no other horse has this sun-touched coloring. The Golden Horse carries the weight of Zelda's legacy, and registering it feels like preserving a piece of Hyrulean royalty. Unlike most unique horses, it can be fully customized with any saddle or bridle.
Stats
Speed
★★★★☆
Pull
★★★☆☆
Stamina
★★★☆☆
Temperament: wild
Unique Traits
•
Unique golden coat with flowing white mane — no other horse in TotK has this exact coloring.
•
Connected to Princess Zelda's lineage and the Royal Family of Hyrule.
•
Quest-gated: the horse only spawns after sufficient progress in "Potential Princess Sightings."
•
Well-balanced 4/3/3 stats make it an excellent general-purpose mount for exploration.
Stalhorse
Location
Various (nighttime spawns across Hyrule)
A skeletal undead horse that only stalks the land between midnight and dawn. Stalhorses are the mounts of Stalkoblins and other stal-type enemies that emerge under the cover of darkness. Constructed entirely of animated bones with glowing blue-green spirit fire in their eye sockets and joint gaps, they are among the most visually striking mounts in all of Hyrule. Stalhorses cannot be registered at stables — every stable attendant refuses in terror — and they disintegrate at dawn when sunlight touches their bones. They are a temporary nighttime novelty: eerie, atmospheric, and surprisingly cooperative once unmounted from their undead rider. Despite their ghoulish appearance, they handle like a standard horse and require no stamina to ride.
Stats
Speed
★★★☆☆
Pull
★★★☆☆
Stamina
★★★☆☆
Temperament: gentle
Unique Traits
•
Made entirely of animated bones with glowing blue-green joint fire — the most visually striking mount in the game.
•
Cannot be registered at any stable — NPCs react with fear and refuse.
•
Disintegrates at 5 AM when dawn breaks. Cannot be preserved past sunrise under any circumstances.
•
No soothing required — gentle temperament with instant acceptance of any rider.
Giant White Stallion
Location
West Necluda / Lake of the Horse God area
A large, pure-white horse of royal bearing with an immaculate coat and flowing ivory mane. The Giant White Stallion is noticeably larger than standard wild horses — not as massive as the Giant Horse, but bigger than any normal mount — and carries near-perfect 4/4/4 balanced stats. It is said to be descended from the white horse ridden by the King of Hyrule himself, and its bearing reflects centuries of royal bloodline. The white coat catches light beautifully and makes this horse visible from a distance. With excellent speed, strong pull, and solid stamina, the Giant White Stallion stands as arguably the single best all-around rideable horse in the game for players who want one mount that can do everything. It is the overworld king of mounts.
Stats
Speed
★★★★☆
Pull
★★★★☆
Stamina
★★★★☆
Temperament: wild
Unique Traits
•
Pure white coat with no markings — the cleanest, most regal-looking horse in the game.
•
Noticeably larger than standard horses but smaller than the Giant Horse — a commanding presence.
•
Excellent balanced 4/4/4 stats — the best single stat profile for all-purpose riding.
•
Said to descend from the Royal Family's horses — a lore-significant mount.
Epona
Location
amiibo scan (any overworld location)
Link's iconic companion horse from Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess, and Breath of the Wild. Epona can only be obtained in Tears of the Kingdom by scanning a compatible amiibo — specifically the Link (Super Smash Bros), Link (Twilight Princess), or Link (Twilight Princess Rider) amiibo figures. Epona has perfect balanced 4/4/4 stats identical to the Giant White Stallion but with a gentle temperament instead of wild — making her the easiest top-tier horse to ride. She is the only horse in the game with a canonical name, cross-game history, and musical recognition (her iconic song plays when she appears). Her chestnut brown coat with white blaze and white leg markings has been her look across every Zelda game. Epona is the ultimate mount for Zelda series fans.
Stats
Speed
★★★★☆
Pull
★★★★☆
Stamina
★★★★☆
Temperament: gentle
Unique Traits
•
The only canonically named horse in TotK with cross-game Zelda history.
•
Gentle temperament — no stamina required to tame. She accepts Link with zero bucking.
•
Perfect 4/4/4 stats identical to the Giant White Stallion, but with the handling ease of gentle temperament.
•
Distinctive chestnut brown coat with white blaze (face stripe) and white lower legs — her look from OoT and TP.
Location
Remote Hyrule — Dawn/Dusk Sightings
A rare, luminously white horse occasionally spotted in remote areas of Hyrule during dawn and dusk hours, moving alone rather than with a herd. The Spirit Horse has a distinctly ethereal quality to its appearance — its white coat seems to catch the light differently than standard Cremello or Giant White Stallion horses, giving it an otherworldly shimmer that has led Hyrulean folklore to associate it with the blessing of the Goddess Hylia. Its stats mirror those of the highest-quality wild horses: five stars in speed and three stars in pull — a pure speed-focused mount for riders who prioritize velocity above everything else.
Stats
Speed
★★★★★
Pull
★★★☆☆
Stamina
★★★★☆
Temperament: wild
Unique Traits
•
Luminous white coat with ethereal shimmer at dawn/dusk
•
Rare solitary spawn — not in herds
•
Five-star speed — fastest white horse variant in Hyrule
White Stallion (Royal)
Location
Hyrule Ridge
A pure white stallion said to be descended from the royal horses of Hyrule's ancient monarchy. Flowing white mane and tail mark this as one of the most majestic horses in TotK. The White Stallion has balanced high stats and responds uniquely to riders wearing royal equipment. It is associated with Princess Zelda's lineage and appears during specific questline moments. Riders feel a sense of calm dignity when mounted on this horse.
Stats
Speed
★★★★☆
Pull
★★★★☆
Stamina
★★★★☆
Temperament: wild
Unique Traits
•
Pure white coat associated with Hyrule royal lineage
•
Balanced 4/4/4 stats — among the best natural stat spreads in the game
•
Responds to the Royal Saddle and Royal Bridle with enhanced visual effects
•
One per save — does not respawn after registration
Stables in Tears of the Kingdom
Stables are rest stops scattered across Hyrule where you can register, board, retrieve, and customize your horses. There are 15 stables in TotK, each run by a friendly attendant. Stables also serve as cooking spots, shops, side quest hubs, and Pony Point reward locations.
Horse Registration
Register a tamed horse for 20 Rupees. You can name it and it becomes permanently yours. You can have up to 5 horses registered at once. If you need a 6th, you must release one.
Board & Retrieve
Board (store) a horse at any stable and retrieve it at any other stable. Your horse teleports between stables for convenience.
Customize Appearance
Change your horse's mane style, mane color, saddle, and bridle at any stable. Talk to the attendant and select "Change gear." Unique horses (Giant Horse, Stalhorse) have limited customization.
Pony Points
Earn Pony Points by staying at stables (sleep in a bed). Accumulate points to unlock rewards: the Horse God Fabric, special saddles, bridles, and the Towing Harness for pulling carts.
Towing Harness
A special Pony Points reward that allows your horse to pull carts and Zonai constructions. Essential for horse-drawn vehicle builds. Unlocked at 9 Pony Points.
Horse Gear & Equipment
| Gear | How to Get | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Stable Saddle & Bridle | Default gear at registration | No special effect — basic equipment. |
| Traveler's Saddle & Bridle | Pony Points reward (3 points) | Cosmetic upgrade — styled for exploration. |
| Knight's Saddle & Bridle | Pony Points reward (6 points) | Cosmetic upgrade — styled for combat. |
| Royal Saddle & Bridle | Pony Points reward (9 points) | Cosmetic upgrade — styled for royalty. |
| Extravagant Saddle & Bridle | Pony Points reward (12 points) | The flashiest gear available — jeweled and ornate. |
| Towing Harness | Pony Points reward (special) | Allows your horse to pull carts, platforms, and Zonai constructions. Essential for horse-drawn vehicles. |
| Ancient Saddle | amiibo or special quest | Allows you to teleport your horse to your location by whistling, regardless of distance. |
| Giant's Saddle & Giant's Bridle | Special stable gear for oversized horses | Designed specifically for the Giant Horse — the only gear that fits its massive frame. |
Malanya — The Horse God
Malanya is the Horse God — a Great Fairy-like being that protects horses in Hyrule. In Tears of the Kingdom, Malanya can revive any horse that has died, restoring it to full health at any stable. Malanya also has strong opinions about how Link treats horses and will scold you if your horses have been dying frequently.
Location
Malanya Spring — located near the Horse God Bridge in the Lake of the Horse God, southeastern Hyrule (south of Highland Stable). The exact location is at the southern tip of the Horse God Bridge.
Services
•
Revive any dead registered horse — restored to full health and returned to the stable system.
•
Enhance horse stats temporarily with special food (Endura Carrots provide the best boost).
•
Malanya reacts to how you treat your horses — frequent horse deaths result in scolding.
Tips
•
Always have at least one Endura Carrot before visiting Malanya for the first time.
•
Malanya is essential insurance for unique horses (Giant Horse, Golden Horse, Epona) that are hard to replace.
•
If your horse dies in combat or falls off a cliff, visit any stable and the attendant will mention Malanya can help.
•
Endura Carrots grow near Cherry Blossom trees and Great Fairy Fountains across Hyrule.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many horses can you register in Tears of the Kingdom?
You can register up to 5 horses at stables in TotK. If you already have 5 registered, you must release one before registering a new horse. All registered horses are shared across every stable in Hyrule.
What is the best horse in Tears of the Kingdom?
The best overall horse is Epona (via the Link amiibo) with balanced 4/4/5 stats. For raw speed, wild horses with 5-star speed spawn in Akkala Highlands and Hebra. The Giant Horse has the highest pull stat (5 stars) but cannot gallop. Zelda's Golden Horse is the best quest reward mount with 4/3/3 stats.
How do you register a horse at a stable?
Ride your tamed horse directly to any stable and speak to the stable hand at the front desk. Registration costs 20 Rupees. Once registered, you can board and retrieve your horse at any stable in Hyrule. You can also customize your horse's mane, bridle, and saddle after registering.
Can you get Epona in Tears of the Kingdom?
Yes, Epona is available in TotK by scanning the Link amiibo (from the Super Smash Bros. series). She has 4-star strength, 4-star speed, and 5-star stamina — making her the most balanced named horse. If you had Epona registered in Breath of the Wild, she does NOT carry over; you must scan the amiibo again.
Where is Malanya the Horse God in TotK?
Malanya is located at the Malanya Spring near the Highland Stable in southern Hyrule, south of Lake Hylia. Malanya can revive any horse that has died and also upgrade your horse's stats (speed, pull, or stamina) by feeding it specific ingredients like Endura Carrots and Swift Carrots.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
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