The map of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom is almost three times bigger than its sequel, Breath Of The Wild. To cover such a large area of Hyrule, mounts can be the player’s best friend.
Mounts, like horses, are effective in covering a vast distance quickly. While players can always use fast travel, riding on the back of their horse and exploring the world of Hyrule will surely hit differently. But these horses must be caught and tamed before the players can begin riding them around the map.
Updated by Adib Pritom on June 17, 2023: A new section of How To Release A Horse has been added for the readers to know how they can release a horse if their stock is full. An embedded link has been added to How To Revive A Horse, so the readers can get a horse back if they have lost it.
How To Catch A Horse
Horses can be found in open fields near the stables. So, if you are looking for a horse, check around the stables with open fields. The horses will mostly stay in a herd of three or four. However, not all types of horses are easy to catch. Some have higher stamina and will be much harder to catch if you do not have enough stamina to soothe a horse.
There are five types of horses in Tears Of The Kingdom:
- Wild Horse
- Skeletal Horse
- Golden Horse
- Epona
- Giant White Stallion
If you are catching your first horse, targeting those with multicolors is better. These horses generally have less stamina and are easier to soothe than the others. Once you progress through the game, you can start catching the peach-colored horses.
Once you find a horse, you must sneak closer to it and tame it. Untamed horses will run away if they notice you getting closer. So crouch and sneak from behind the horse.
Once you have successfully got close enough, you will get the Mount option on your screen. Press ‘A’ to mount the horse, and then keep spamming the ‘L’ button to soothe the horse while it's trying to get you off his back. Remember, the horse's jumping will drain your stamina, so ensure you have enough stamina before you try to catch a strong horse. The horse will be tamed and ready to ride once it stops jumping.
Another way of catching a horse is by stealing it from enemies. These horses are easier to tame and won't require much effort. You will often find enemies like the Bokoblins riding the horse in Hyrule. If you notice an enemy riding a horse, throw an arrow or any projectile and knock the rider off the horse. You can then claim the horse and register it as your mount.
How To Register A Horse
After you have tamed your horse, you will have to register it in a stable so that it doesn't go back to the wild again. Registering your horse in the stable will also allow you to name it, put a saddle, call it from a distance with your whistle, or summon it from any stable.
Ride your horse to any nearest stable, and approach the stable master at the front. Talk with the stable master, who will allow you to register your horse for 20 rupees. Name your horse as you like, and it will be registered successfully. Every time you register a horse in any stable, you will be rewarded with 1 Pony Point. These points can be used to get you and your horses' several rewards from the stables ledger.
Increasing your bond with the horse is important to make it listen to your commands. New horses with low bonds are likelier to ignore your command and not do what they are told to do. To bond with your horse, press the ‘L’ button while riding it, and your bond will slowly keep increasing. You can also feed your horse to increase your bond with it.
Can You Release A Horse?
Yes, you can release a horse in Tears of the Kingdom. You can have a maximum of six horses registered over all the stables in Tears of the Kingdom, and if you want to add a new horse to your collection, you will have to let one go from the previous six you registered.
Releasing a horse is just as easy as registering one. First, catch a new type of horse that you want to register, and take it to any nearest stable location. Talk to the stable master, and he will tell you that your stock is full and you are required to free up space before you can register a new horse. Choose 'Let one go.' and then select one horse you would like to release and the old horse will be gone from your stock.
It is highly recommended to be careful of which horse you are releasing. Releasing a horse with better stats to register a weaker one might not be the smartest move to make. But, if you want to add a horse badly to your collection, but the stable is already full, it's worth releasing an old one.
Also, you will have a stable space cleared out if one of your horses dies from falling off a cliff or maybe taking damage. This is not exactly releasing, it's more like losing a horse. It can be sad, and tough to lose a horse you tamed and bonded with, but it creates a space for you to register a new type of horse. However, unlike releasing, if your horse is dead, you can revive it back if you want.