Are There Horses in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom?

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild became a roaring success since its release in 2017, making it one of the best-selling Nintendo Switch games. The diverse mechanics and ability to interact with the vast environment stole the hearts of many and surpassed the definition of open-world games. 

Nintendo introduces another epic adventure in the popular game’s sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. You can expect unfamiliar enemies, new abilities, and even advanced methods of transportation in this sky-high journey that begins on May 12.

Although the new vehicles look cool, many fans are wondering if Link will still ride horses in Tears of the Kingdom. 

Are There Horses in Tears of the Kingdom?

Judging by the second official trailer, it seems horses will appear in Tears of the Kingdom — or at least one horse will show up. You’ll find Link riding a dark brown horse with a light mane and tail in a few shots. 

Some of you may notice that the horse resembles Epona, Link’s domesticated horse from past games. So, if we cannot tame wild horses in Tears of the Kingdom, maybe we’ll get Epona. Fans were disappointed after they realized they could only get the legendary horse in Breath of the Wild by purchasing the Super Smash Bros. Link or the Twilight Princess Zelda 30th Anniversary Link amiibos. Could Epona’s appearance in Tears of the Kingdom be Nintendo’s redemption for that atrocity? Maybe. 

That being said, I don’t think Nintendo will eliminate horses from the game. They were an integral part of exploration in Hyrule Kingdom, and I’m sure players would miss them. Other transportational methods show up in the trailer, but they don’t seem as practical as horse-back riding. 

One vehicle looks like it needs Link’s abilities to function, so it may not be as intuitive for traveling long distances. There’s also a hot-air balloon and a drone-like machine you can ride, though players may not prefer these traveling methods to a horse. Of course, we’ll need this equipment sometimes, but nothing beats running across the Hyrule Field while sitting atop a four-legged friend.

If you’re as excited as I am about The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, find out how to pre-order the game on Gamer Journalist!