# Mastering Epona and Collectibles in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Unlock your trusty steed and track down hidden Gold Skulltulas across the vast Hyrule kingdom. - **Source:** [Polygon](https://www.polygon.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [entertainment](https://brifing.si/c/entertainment) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/1bfefe99-9b61-4099-8fbf-3a42dbcc4c2b ## Acquiring Your Loyal Steed To obtain Epona, you must first visit Lon Lon Ranch as a child. After waking Talon, speak with Malon to learn Epona’s Song, played by inputting the sequence X-Y-A-X-Y-A on your ocarina. While this summons the horse, Link cannot ride her until he matures into an adult later in the game. ## Winning the Ranch Race As an adult, return to the renamed Ingo Ranch and pay 20 rupees to enter the field. Summon Epona with the song and challenge Ingo to a race. By sticking to the inside track and impeding his path early, you can secure victory against him twice to eventually claim the horse. ## Escaping the Ranch Gates After losing the second race, Ingo will lock you inside the ranch premises. To successfully claim Epona as your own, you must circle the track and jump over the wooden gate. Once you escape, Epona becomes permanently available, allowing you to summon her anywhere in Hyrule Field or Gerudo Fortress. ## Strategic Horseback Utility Epona serves as a vital tool for traversing the expansive Hyrule Field, significantly reducing travel time between major zones. While her movement is restricted to specific areas like the field and Gerudo Fortress, she remains the most efficient method for navigating the game world during your quest to defeat Ganondorf. ## Tracking Gold Skulltulas Beyond horseback riding, completionists must hunt for Gold Skulltula tokens hidden throughout the environment. Specifically, eight of these creatures are located across Zora Domain, Zora River, and Zora Fountain. Finding them requires careful exploration and revisiting these locations during different story stages as both child and adult Link. ## Essential Exploration Tools Successfully locating every Gold Skulltula requires preparation and specific inventory items. You must stock up on bottled bugs to flush out hidden enemies and Magic Beans to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. These mechanics are essential for players aiming for 100% completion within the remake’s complex and interconnected world map. ## Navigating World Changes The game’s progression relies heavily on the transition between childhood and adulthood. Many areas, including Lon Lon Ranch, undergo significant structural changes as the story advances. Players must remain observant of these environmental shifts, as certain collectibles and interactions are only available during specific phases of Link’s life journey. ## Completionist Gameplay Path Mastering Ocarina of Time involves balancing main quest objectives, like dungeon navigation, with side activities like finding Pieces of Heart or Gold Skulltulas. Whether you are racing Ingo for your horse or planting Magic Beans, these tasks provide the depth required to fully experience the remake’s vast, secrets-filled landscape. ## Sources covering this story - [Polygon — How to Obtain Epona in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time](https://www.polygon.com/zelda-ocarina-of-time-remake-oot-epona-horse-how-to-get/) - [VGC — Zelda: Ocarina of Time Switch 2 Gold Skulltula Locations](https://www.videogameschronicle.com/guide/all-zora-river-domain-and-fountain-gold-skulltulas-in-zelda-ocarina-of-time-switch-2/) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._