You're wandering through the Faron Grasslands or trekking the coastline near Hateno, and suddenly, you see it. It’s not just a horse. It’s a mountain with a mane. In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the sheer scale of the Giant Horse—and its newer, snow-white cousin—is enough to make any player stop dead in their tracks. But then the doubt creeps in. You notice the lack of a stamina wheel. You see the speed stat is low. You realize you can't even put a towing harness on the thing.
Is it just a trophy? Or is there a real reason to ride the giant horse in a world where you can literally build a hoverbike out of fans and a steering stick?
Honestly, most players overlook the "big boys" because they don't play like traditional mounts. They are less like Ferraris and more like tanks. If you’re looking for a graceful gallop through Hyrule Field, you’ll be disappointed. But if you want a beast that can trample through a Bokoblin camp without flinching, you’ve come to the right place.
Where the Behemoths Hide
In Tears of the Kingdom, you aren't limited to just one oversized steed. You actually have two distinct flavors of "enormous" to choose from.
First, there’s Ganon’s Horse. This is the classic charcoal-grey beast with the orange mane. If you had him in Breath of the Wild and your save data carried over, he’s probably already waiting for you at the nearest stable. If not, you’ll find him hanging out on the peninsula southeast of Hateno Village, specifically in the Hateno Bay area. He’s hard to miss; he looks like he could eat a standard horse for breakfast.
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Then there’s the newcomer: the Giant White Stallion. This thing is majestic. It’s located in the Faron region, tucked away in a canyon past the Horse God Bridge. This spot used to be the home of Malanya, the Horse God, in the previous game. Now, it’s just this massive, silent guardian of the cliffs.
The Taming Struggle is Real
Let’s talk mechanics. You can’t just hop on and expect a smooth ride. Taming these monsters is a test of your patience and your Link’s lung capacity.
Basically, you need stamina. A lot of it.
Most veteran players suggest having at least two full wheels of stamina before even attempting this. If you’re early in the game, don't even bother unless you have a bag full of Energizing Elixirs or Endura Carrot meals. When you mount up, you have to mash the L button like your life depends on it.
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I’ve seen people complain that they spent five full stamina bars and still got bucked. Here’s the secret: don't just hold the button. You have to tap it rhythmically but fast. It’s a wrestling match. If you see your stamina hitting that final red sliver, pause the game, eat your stamina-restoring food, and keep mashing. Eventually, the beast will settle.
Why Stats Lie to You
On paper, the giant horses look mediocre.
- Strength: 5 (Maxed out)
- Speed: 2 (Abysmal, right?)
- Stamina: N/A (Wait, what?)
- Pull: N/A (No wagons for you)
Here is what the game doesn't tell you: the stride length. Because these horses are twice the size of a standard horse, their "slow" trot covers significantly more ground than a regular horse's trot. While they can't "sprint" (which explains the lack of a stamina wheel), their base gallop is surprisingly fast.
More importantly, they are absolute units in combat. Because of their mass, they have a much higher "trample" priority. You can literally ride through a pack of Red Bokoblins and watch them fly like bowling pins. They also have a massive health pool. While a regular horse might catch a stray arrow and go down, the giant horse just takes it and keeps moving.
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The Customization Dead End
One major gripe people have—and it’s valid—is that you can’t customize these horses. You take them to a stable, the clerk looks at the horse, looks at you, and basically says, "Yeah, we don't have a saddle that fits this monster."
You can't change the mane. You can't change the bridle. You certainly can't attach a towing harness.
This means the giant horse is useless for the "bring this person to that place" side quests that require a wagon. It’s a pure combat and exploration mount. It’s a statement piece. You ride the giant horse because you want the world to know you've conquered one of the rarest creatures in Hyrule.
Is It Actually Worth It?
If you're a min-maxer who only cares about the fastest possible travel time, you'll probably stick to your five-star speed horses or your Zonai flyers. But there is a specific joy in the weight of the giant horse.
In Tears of the Kingdom, the world feels more vertical and cluttered than ever. Having a mount that doesn't get "spooked" as easily by small obstacles and can bowl over enemies is a genuine utility. Plus, if you’re doing the Ride the Giant Horse shrine quest for the Ishokin Shrine, you’re going to need to bring one of these beasts to a specific NPC anyway.
Actionable Steps for the Aspiring Giant Rider
- Prep your kitchen: Cook at least 3-4 meals using Endura Carrots (found at Satori Mountain) to give yourself those extra yellow stamina bars.
- Go Stealthy: Wear the Stealth Set or eat a Sneaky Mushroom skewer. These horses have incredible hearing; if you aren't quiet, they’ll bolt before you're within ten feet.
- The High Ground: Instead of sneaking up from behind (where you might get kicked), try to paraglide down onto their back from a nearby cliff. It skips the sneaking phase entirely.
- Register Immediately: The trek from Hateno Bay to the Dueling Peaks Stable is long and full of monsters. Don't get distracted. Get that horse registered so you can summon it from any stable in the future.
Riding these giants isn't about efficiency. It's about the feel of the controller vibrating as this massive creature thuds across the grass. It’s about the fact that when you’re on a Giant White Stallion, even the Lynels look a little less intimidating. Go find one. Pack some carrots. It’s a rite of passage every Hyrule explorer needs to experience at least once.