To obtain Epona in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake, you must learn her song as child Link and defeat Ingo twice as adult Link to earn her. Once won, you must successfully jump the horse over the ranch fence to officially secure her as your companion.
Epona is optional in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake, so the main quest will not automatically award her. Pick up the childhood requirement early, then make the ranch a detour once adult Link can explore Hyrule. You do not need to clear an adult temple before attempting Ingo's challenge.
Requirements before recruiting Epona
The preparation and recruitment happen at different stages of Link's life. Child Link can meet Epona and learn the song that calls her, but only adult Link can ride and permanently unlock her.
Progress through the Three Spiritual Stones quest and acquire the Master Sword to reach adulthood. Your childhood visit to the ranch can happen before this milestone, so there is no reason to delay learning the song until the racing portion becomes available.
If you are already adult Link
Missing Epona's Song during childhood does not permanently lock you out of the horse. Later in the story, you can return to childhood through the Temple of Time. Visit Malon during the day and complete the song lesson before returning as an adult.
What to do at Lon Lon Ranch as a child
Your first encounter with Malon happens around the Hyrule Castle visit. She gives you a Weird Egg, which hatches into the Wake-Up Cucco used to wake her father, Talon. After helping him and visiting Zelda, head to Lon Lon Ranch, near the center of Hyrule Field.
Visit during the day. Malon stands beside young Epona in the horse corral. If you arrive at night, wait for daytime or use Sun's Song if you have already learned it.
Find the ranch before growing up
Learn Epona's Song from Malon
Follow these steps once you reach the corral:
- Approach Malon and speak to her about Epona and the music she likes.
- Continue the conversation until Malon has explained her song.
- Take out your ocarina while standing beside her.
- Complete the lesson to learn Epona's Song.
The ocarina interaction is easy to overlook. Talking to Malon gets the conversation started, but taking out the instrument prompts her to teach you.
Learn the song beside Malon
Return to the ranch as adult Link
Return during the day after acquiring the Master Sword. Ingo now runs the ranch, and the conversation you need is with him outside the corral. Accept his paid offer to ride the horses.
Once inside, play Epona's Song instead of mounting another horse. Epona will approach, allowing you to climb onto her. The call can work without the usual song-confirmation sound, so watch for her movement before assuming the input failed.
Ride Epona over to Ingo and speak to him while still mounted when you are ready to move on to the race.
Practice the carrot controls first
Use the riding session to learn how Epona turns and clears the small practice fences. Her speed boosts are represented by six carrot icons at the bottom of the screen.
Press A to accelerate. Each boost consumes a carrot, and the meter refills over time. Practice spacing the boosts out while steering, because the race requires speed through several parts of the lap, not one burst at the start.
Prepare Rupees for the races
Set aside at least 40 Rupees for the initial riding session and first race wager. These are separate payments, so arriving with only enough money to enter the corral leaves you short for the challenge.
| Payment | Cost | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Horse-riding session | 20 Rupees | Access to the corral to call and ride Epona |
| First race wager | 20 Rupees | Ingo's initial racing challenge |
Treat 40 Rupees as the budget for those two initial payments, not a reserve for repeated attempts. Carrying more gives you room to restart the paid sequence if needed.
Check Ingo's riding fee
Beat Ingo and escape the ranch
Ingo challenges you to a single lap around the corral. Winning once is not enough: he immediately demands a rematch, with Epona offered as the prize.
Both races use the same track, but the second asks more of your positioning and boost timing.
| Race | What to expect | Best use of your boosts |
|---|---|---|
| First race | A more forgiving pace around one lap | Use one or two early, then spread the rest across the straight and final corner |
| Rematch | Ingo starts early, rides faster, and blocks more aggressively | Push ahead around the first turn and straight, then save a carrot for the finish |
Hold the inside line and manage boosts
The inside line shortens the distance you travel around the corral. Use an early boost to draw level with Ingo or move ahead, then stay close to the inner edge without steering into the fence.
In the rematch, the straight after the first turn is a useful place to spend several boosts. Ingo gains speed there, so getting ahead before he can block your route makes the rest of the lap easier to manage. Around three carrots can help you establish that lead, but keep checking the meter as it refills.
Save at least one carrot for the final turn and run to the finish. Spending every boost immediately can leave you without acceleration when Ingo is closing the gap.
Jump out after the second win
Ingo closes the exit after losing the rematch. The horse is not fully secured until you get her out of the ranch.
- Ride around the perimeter and find a low section of fencing.
- Back away to leave enough room for a run-up.
- Face the fence straight on.
- Accelerate as you approach it.
With enough speed and the correct angle, Epona jumps automatically. Clear the fence and watch the escape scene to finish the unlock.
If she stops at the barrier, reset your approach. Give her more space to build speed and line up squarely with the low fence before trying again.
How to call and ride Epona
After the escape, adult Link can summon Epona in Hyrule Field and other suitable open areas by playing Epona's Song on either ocarina. The button sequence is X, Y, A, X, Y, A.
Epona speeds up long crossings between side-quest stops, making her useful for trips during the The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Biggoron Sword trading quest. She cannot enter towns or dungeons, so plan to finish those approaches on foot.
Optional activities to try with Epona
You can return to Lon Lon Ranch immediately for the horse-jumping obstacle course. Its reward is Link's Cow, but completing that course is separate from keeping Epona.
Horseback archery becomes available at Gerudo Fortress after you rescue the Master Craftsman's carpenters and obtain the Gerudo Pass from the Gerudo Warrior. Owning the horse alone does not unlock that activity.
Epona also lets you spawn Big Poes by jumping over the neon purple hurdles around Hyrule Field. Capture their spirits in Empty Bottles and take them to the Poe Collector in Hyrule Castle Town. Five bottled Big Poe spirits earn another Empty Bottle, a useful reward to weigh against the other collection priorities in the The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake best items tier list.
Ten bottled Big Poe spirits earn a Gold Rupee. Before heading out to the hurdles, make sure you have an Empty Bottle ready for the capture.
