Epona

[angelkid]

Just had a thought. Well two thoughts.

First: Some people place TP on the child timeline. However, if this was so Link would never own Epona. I know some people will say 'but he could have got her through some other method.' However, Malon tells us that Epona is her favourite and it is fairly certain that she woud never give Epona away. Epona can only be acquired by defeating Ingo, and on the CT he never becomes the owner of the ranch.

Second: I have heard speculation that TP is 100 years after OoT. If this was so, Epona would not be alive. Also, as far as I am concerned there is no way that it could simply be a different horse as there was always something special about Epona. She cant just be replaced. Plus, not many other horses are that colour and the fact that she responds to Link playing 'Eponas song' on the horseweed/ horsecall means it must be the same horse.

[Vincent]

Link still knew Epona's Song when he returned to being a child, so he could call Epona.

It is a different horse. There is no possible way a single horse could live for 100 years. It was just something special the developers threw in for the fans. If you want to be technical about it, one could say that it's a descendant of the first Epona, or a reincarnation.

[zzRICHzz]

its definitally a different horse in TP and i dont think that TP is supposed to be 100 yrs after OoT, i'm sure its 100's of yrs after. anyway i agree with swiftblade it would have to be reincarnation of epona... so that it fits better in the game.

or... maybe its a different horse all together because you do have the option to change her name before you start the game

Epona was a great addition to the series and i'm sure they just wanted to re-use horseback riding and improve on it (which they did)

[the walrus cat]

Link had epona in majora's mask so I think we can assume he somehow got her on the child timeline.

That doesn't answer why epona is alive, though. I have two answers, and both are pretty crazy.

1) Epona is immortal... I won't even try to support it though because that's quite unlikely.

2. She's a reincarnation. But it's probably a descendant, not a reincarnation. Maybe that line of horses somehow "knows" the song.

But it might not even be the same horse (as stated above), it's just a default name although they are very similar (the horses).

Then remember it's a video game and nintendo probably just wanted to bring epona back in some way.

[Tatlfaerie]

I think it's a different horse. I don't remember her having a marking on her forehead. Correct me if I'm wrong but i'm pretty sure she has a marking. Descendant would also make sense, though.

[HeroofAges]

Well I am sure that this Link is not OoT Link. And if this is at least 100 years later as we are told, then this is probably a different horse. I would guess that just like many young boys are called Link, many horses are called Epona. Or maybe this Link and Epona are descendants of the originals.

[MrMosley]

It is impossible to have the same horse live for 100+ years. Link got Epona on the CT in OoT obviously, because he had her in MM. Once he knew the song, Epona would come to him.

Epona's Song, just like Epona's name, is a pretty well known thing because of OoT. Just because the horse in TP is pre-named Epona, doesn't make it the same horse. Link is pre-named Link, but that doesn't mean its the same one from OoT or ALttP or LoZ, etc.

Sorry, but there's really no other options for discussion on this subject. It is a different horse.

[angelkid]

I just dont comply with the fact it has to be a descendent. I'm pretty fed up in Zelda of everyone giving their children the same name. Surely this isnt going to happen with horses too? I also just dont see how people can just say 'it is not the same horse.' There is no proof for this. True there is no proof that it in fact is the same horse, however, I will stick by my theory until proved that it cannot be the same horse.


I think it's a different horse. I don't remember her having a marking on her forehead. Correct me if I'm wrong but i'm pretty sure she has a marking. Descendant would also make sense, though.

Ah. This is interesting. I will look into this. This could be the proof I was hoping for.

[Durion]

There is no way it is the same Epona, Very much like how it is not the same Link, The closest you are going to get with this is what Swiftblade said, This Epona is probably a decendant of the OoT Epona, I don't think that it may be a reincarnation but it could be.

Also if you want to be picky about it you could also say that 'There is no way that a Immortal Man can die' but he can much like he does in TP.

[MrMosley]

I just dont comply with the fact it has to be a descendent. I'm pretty fed up in Zelda of everyone giving their children the same name. Surely this isnt going to happen with horses too? I also just dont see how people can just say 'it is not the same horse.' There is no proof for this. True there is no proof that it in fact is the same horse, however, I will stick by my theory until proved that it cannot be the same horse.

Do you have any proof that horses can live about 150 years? Because if you believe that, then I guess it would be easy to believe its the same horse. But when you come back to the realization that a horse living that long is very impossible, not to mention even if a horse did somehow live that long, it would be crippled, old, and quite immobile.

No offence intended, but it is impossible for TP's horse to be the same one from OoT. There really is no argument here. And no one is gonna come up with some big revelation of important in-game fact that says "Epona is different than the one from OoT", because something like that is 1.) Obvious, and 2.) Unimportant to the plot whatsoever.

[angelkid]

Do you have any proof that horses can live about 150 years?

No. I do not have any proof. However, neither do you have any proof that the game is 150 years later. NOTHING on the timeline is certain.

[El Bagu]

The general life-span for a horse in captivity is in our world 20-25 years. But this is no reason why things couldn´t be different in Hyrule. Maybe horses there can/do live for hundreds of years. It (Hyrule) is another world (if you ask the majority of us) and anything is possible there I would guess.

Still I believe it´s a different Epona we experience in Twilight Princess and I also believe she´s a descendant, I do see some traits.

[Skull_Kid]

I believe that they are different horses, the same way that there are different Links.
The fact that it is also attracted by Epona's Song, just proves that that song is probably a song used by people to call their horses.
The thought that it is the same Epona as the OoT one, to me, is absolutely ridiculous.
Even if horses were capable of living for so long(wich they aren't, not here, not Hyrule, not anywhere), Epona would look like an older Horse, but, TP's Epona is clearly a youthful horse, full of power, not some old decrepit old horse

[Immortal_One]

Epona would look like an older Horse, but, TP's Epona is clearly a youthful horse, full of power, not some old decrepit old horse
Lulz, an old decrepit Epona, interesting thought xD

Anyway, I'm sure it's a different horse. If it were the same horse, the idea that horses can live upwards of 100-150 years would be significant enough to include within some portion of the game. Since they didn't mention anything though, it can't be the same Epona.

One single word from the Executives though, could change it all.

[MrMosley]

No. I do not have any proof. However, neither do you have any proof that the game is 150 years later. NOTHING on the timeline is certain.

Actually I do. Its called "developer quotes". I'm stealing this from Zeruda in another thread since she has sources attached. Hope you don't mind, Zeruda.:) This is one of the more popular and recent quotes, from Aonuma, about the timeline. It states where TP and WW fall into place, and around about how many years are in between.


"About when is the Twilight Princess timeline set?

Aonuma: 'In a world some hundred years after 'Ocarina of Time.'

"And 'Wind Waker"

Aonuma: 'Wind Waker' is parallel. In 'Ocarina of Time,' Link jumps to
a world seven years ahead, defeats Ganon, and returns to the time of
his childhood, right? 'Twilight Princess' is a world a hundred some
years after that pacified childhood time.'
(SOURCE (http://www.nindori.com/interview/154zelda/154int_02.html), 2 (http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/zelda-theorizing/60829-aonuma-confirms-split-timeline-again.html))

See that? "Some Hundred Years"... Which means at least 100 and probably more.

PWND

[Erimgard]

Dude...Link has Epona in Majora's Mask which is a child timeline game. And it's probably a different horse anyway...you don't HAVE to name it Epona.

[Zeruda]

Actually I do. Its called "developer quotes". I'm stealing this from Zeruda in another thread since she has sources attached. Hope you don't mind, Zeruda.:)
Not a problem- I'm glad you did. Sourcing is very important, especially in helping fans understand what is and is not canon.



In any case, I'm actually quite surprised that anybody would think it'd be the same horse or even a descendant. The Zelda world is based on a religion- 3 goddesses and destiny. This is why a new hero arises every time, and this is why the heroine is always of the royal family. Still, it'd be silly to bother with making OoT!Epona some character tied to destiny. A new horse isn't going to arise every time. Plus, the name isn't mandatory. Like "Link", you can change "Epona" to anything you want. It's pretty obvious that they were just using the name "Epona" as a choice because it's reminiscent of Ocarina of Time. Nintendo likes to do that. The Ocean King is reminiscent of The Wind Fish... Malon and Talon, Malo and Talo are reminiscent of Marin and Tarin, there is often a GuruGuru character, etc. etc. It's basically just another goodie for the fans.

Compare it to Final Fantasy- they constantly have a character named "Cid" who is never the same. It's pretty much the same idea when it comes to Epona.

[sign of table]

MM is a CT game. Link has Epona in MM... *looks up a few posts* DAMN IT ERIMGARD YOU STOLE WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY :P

[Shadsie]

Link knew all about these legends and histories, of course. He liked to joke about it, and was occasionally playfully teased over it by the adults in Ordon. When he’d gotten his mare, he’d named her “Epona,” after a legendary horse, as a joke. _ The Hero's Heroes (one of my not-so-great early Zelda fanfics).

While I flagrantly abuse Reincarnation Theory in a few of my fan fictions (those who read me know the ones), I've never done it with Epona.

My point? Yeah...

A strong, well-cared for horse will live for about 30 years, give or take. (And, where I grew up, the animal is likely to have been passed to many owners by that time, and may not keep its original name throughout its life, as new owners sometimes rename the horse). Even a horse kept under the same owner for all of its life with the same name is going to only live to be about 30 years old.

I never thought that Epona was some magical, immortal horse. I just figured that TP's Epona was a new horse that, if you keep the default charater names, was an animal that Link named after some legend he heard, or perhaps even a somewhat common horse name.

One of my sister's horses is named Liberty (renamed because when my sis got her, no one knew her original name - and she was pregnant at the time, too). My sister named the mare Liberty and the little colt she produced Justice (very cute). I have to wonder how many horses out there might be named Liberty and Justice - they're very nice names, so I'm thinking, somewhere out there, other Liberties and Justices exist!

My sister and I, when we were children, had a shetland pony named Betsy. How freaking common is that name? My fiance' has a theory that "Everyone has a 'Betsy' in their life" because he had a CAR once named Betsy.

Maybe in Hyrule, Epona has become something common for steeds, like Betsy?

[Erimgard]

MM is a CT game. Link has Epona in MM... *looks up a few posts* DAMN IT ERIMGARD YOU STOLE WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY :P
Ah, good times :) Could be worse, I could've Ninja'd you like I do to everyone at ZU :P

[Niko Bellic 817]

Epona isn't necessarily a descedent from MM and OoT. Her appearance doesn't resemble her N64 appearance and she could've been trained by Link to come to him using Epona's song.
The game developers included her again because of how large the overworld is.

Also, there has been controversy of Epona appearing in The Minish Cap because whenever you talk to the girl selling Lon Lon milk, you hear Epona's song plus there is a horse that pulls her milk cart. According to the timeline, Minish Cap takes place before OoT meaning that this theorized Epona is different as well.

[Erimgard]

Also, there has been controversy of Epona appearing in The Minish Cap because whenever you talk to the girl selling Lon Lon milk, you hear Epona's song plus there is a horse that pulls her milk cart. According to the timeline, Minish Cap takes place before OoT meaning that this theorized Epona is different as well.
Opinion.

But even if it's after Ocarina of Time, it's still implied to be a different Link/Malon/Epona.

[basement24]

I always assumed it could be that people commonly name their horse Epona after a horse of that name that helped one of the heroes of legend in their quest.

That, or maybe the name Epona is just a common horse's name that is given often. Like Spot for a dog.

[Waker of winds]

I really think that the from TP Epona is a descendant of the Epona from OoT, but there are different theories, and no one really knows. What I do know is that the TP Epona and the OoT Epona look the same. Of course the TP looks more real, but they have the same hair color.

[Master Kokiri 9]

Just had a thought. Well two thoughts.

First: Some people place TP on the child timeline. However, if this was so Link would never own Epona. I know some people will say 'but he could have got her through some other method.' However, Malon tells us that Epona is her favourite and it is fairly certain that she woud never give Epona away. Epona can only be acquired by defeating Ingo, and on the CT he never becomes the owner of the ranch.

Second: I have heard speculation that TP is 100 years after OoT. If this was so, Epona would not be alive. Also, as far as I am concerned there is no way that it could simply be a different horse as there was always something special about Epona. She cant just be replaced. Plus, not many other horses are that colour and the fact that she responds to Link playing 'Eponas song' on the horseweed/ horsecall means it must be the same horse.

My guess is Epona like link is often reincarnated over and over but less frequently.

[Clucluclu]

I'd like to start by stating that in TP, it doesn't matter if Epona's name is Epona or Whiplash or Jesus or Sharky or anything. The fact of the matter is that its irrelevent. It is just the classic name for her so the fans of OoT could have a treat.

Also, even if it did mean anything, it would seem as though no one has ever heard about breeding. My uncle owns a ranch so I Know a little about this, but most people who raise horses breed the fastest, strongest, greatest, etc. horses togther so that there will be an even better horse. Epona, obviously, would be a prime candidate for this process. This also would explain why TP Epona Looks different from than OoT/MM Epona.

[Zarom]

Epona in TP is the descendant of Epona from MM. That is that.

[angelkid]

Epona in TP is the descendant of Epona from MM. That is that.

Well, no. That is not that. We have established OoT and TP Epona aren't the same horse. However, they aren't necessarily related. So, again. No, that is not that.

[Zarom]

Well, no. That is not that. We have established OoT and TP Epona aren't the same horse. However, they aren't necessarily related. So, again. No, that is not that.


HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:


VERY FUNNY. It made me laugh for about five minutes when I read that!!! (I noticed that we have been arguing a lot against each other these times, like in the thread: Who would win? Know what I mean?)

Anyway. About what you said: I know Epona in MM (OOT?) is not the same Epona in TP.

I said: ''Epona in TP is the descendant of Epona from MM. That is that.''

By that, I meant that Epona in TP is not completely another horse. She reacts when you play the Epona's Song with the Horse Grass. So that means she is somewhat a descendant of the original Epona. Like she's maybe the great-great grandaughter of the first Epona.


And I really have to say: THAT IS THAT!

[angelkid]

Twilight Princess Epona could easily be trained to respond to the horse grass and the horse call, this does not necessarily mean that she is related to OoT/MM Epona. If you remember correctly, the cows in OoT/MM responded to Epona's song. Does this mean that they are related to Epona? No.

Epona of TP and Epona of OoT have one link to each other, and that is that they look mildly similar. Again though, this does not necessarily mean they are related. That's like saying every chestnutty coloured horse is related to Epona. I agree that there is a chance that she is related, but it is by no means fact.

[Zarom]

[QUOTE=angelkid;69188] If you remember correctly, the cows in OoT/MM responded to Epona's song. Does this mean that they are related to Epona? No. [/QUOTE


Yeah, but it is somewhat different with the cows. (meuuuuuuuuuuhhhhh!) When you played Epona's song they just happened to like this song and that it makes them produces lots of milk. At least that's what they say.