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Taming horsesis one of many fan-favorite features fromBreath of the Wildthat returns inThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Though they will have to wait until they leave the tutorial area of Great Sky Island, plenty of horses await players on the ground below, ready to gallop across Hyrule. This guide will help set players up for success to tame their own horse as quickly as possible.
Finding Horses in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Luckily for players, horses can be found all over Hyrule Field inZelda: Tears of the Kingdom, usually spawning in groups of two or three. Even luckier for players just getting started, the area where players first arrive after leaving Great Sky Island has several of these spawn zones nearby. Hyrule is covered in sprawling grassland, and players should be able to spot a cluster of horses in the distance after only a bit of searching.
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Taming Horses in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
When spotted, the horses inZelda: Tears of the Kingdomshould be approached cautiously. If Link spooks them by attacking or sprinting at them, they will run off and possibly despawn. Players will ideally want tocrouch by clicking the left control stick and sneaking up on the horses.
Most horses can be approached this way without needing stealth-boosting food or outfits, but having them certainly doesn’t hurt. Once close enough, players will see the option to press the A button to mount the horse and attempt to tame it.
Some horses are simple and are able to be tamed immediately after mounting it. Some are a little more difficult and require the player to attempt to soothe the wild animal using the L button.
The horse will start to buck, and Link must use his stamina to hold on. Players will know they are successful when they see pink hearts float above the horse’s head and their demeanor calms.
The time needed to finish taming varies from horse to horse, but most should be attainable if starting with at least one full wheel of stamina. Players are able to enter their inventory menu using the (+) button during the process and can use items such asEnergizing Elixirto extend their stamina if they so need.
Tamed horses will remain so until they die or despawn. Players that wish to keep and name a tamed horse should seek out aStableand register their horse with the Stable Owner. When done, players will be able to call on their tamed horse again in the future.
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Taming Deer in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
There are a few other animals Link comes across in his journey that he can tame. The many deer players come across in grassy and forested areas can also be tamed through the same method as horses.
However, deer are incredibly skittish, so unless a player can outmaneuver them, meals or other items that can provide stat boosts are essential. It’s recommended to use stealth-boosting items to sneak up on the deer or speed-boosting items to rush them before they can react.
Unfortunately, only horses can be kept at a stable; any other animal players tame are just temporary. In fact, deer will need to be tamed again after a certain amount of time. This can happen even while Link is still riding one, and he must soothe it once again or risk being thrown off.
Taming Bears in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Bears are another wild animal that can be temporarily tamed for players to ride. They require a great deal of stamina to soothe, so it’s highly recommended that players back several stamina meals or elixirs to get the job done.
Bears will also attack players if they aren’t careful, so approach them at your own risk. Just like deer, bears cannot be kept at a stable and will lose their tamed status over time.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis available for the Nintendo Switch.
