In order to earn Epona and a free cow in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake, you must do some things at Lon Lon Ranch. While you first meet Epona as Child Link, you will have to wait until you become Adult Link to claim her. The cow requires completing Malon’s horse obstacle course, after which you can collect Lon Lon Milk using empty bottles.
How to Get Epona
Learn Epona’s Song as Child Link
Make your way to Lon Lon Ranch, situated near Hyrule Castle. You can make the trip to the ranch right out of Kokiri Forest without needing to see Zelda first. Go to the area of the ranch and talk to Malon, who will tell you about Epona.
Malon will tell you that whenever Epona is hesitant to do a task, she sings a special song. She will also teach you how to play it. To learn Epona’s song, you need to repeat the melody’s notes: X, Y, A. After playing it, you will get a cutscene, which shows that Epona is coming closer to Link so that she can befriend him.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to ride Epona when playing as Child Link. Therefore, you’ll have to go back to the ranch later when you become an adult.
Win Two Races Against Ingo as Adult Link
As soon as you reach adulthood as Link, head back to Lon Lon Ranch and talk to Ingo. He will want to know if you would like to pay him 20 rupees to ride a horse. Agree and visit the area dedicated to riding.
Play Epona’s Song to summon her before climbing on her back. Once you are ready, speak with Ingo and he will challenge you to a race. Pay him the fee of 20 rupees and win the first race.
After this, Ingo will tell you about another race, an easier one if you win. This one is also a little harder because he starts before you and goes faster. Press the A button when you want Epona to ride faster, but be careful to space out your A-pressing because the carrots might run out. Even if they do, wait for them to get provided again. Try to stay close to the fence without getting too close, and use sharper turns when necessary.
Once the second race has been won, Ingo will lock the gate and stop you from going out. All that is left now is to take Epona near the fence and jump out of the ranch.
How to Get a Free Cow
Wake Up Talon in Kakariko Village
Before you can get through the challenge of Malon, you will need to wake up Talon. Travel to Kakariko village and locate the Cucco Lady before you enter the village on the right. Speak with her to receive a Cucco egg.
Enter the house where Talon is sleeping and equip the egg. Play the Sun’s Song two times so that a full day cycle can be achieved. When the daytime returns, the egg should hatch. If it does not, play the song again.
Once the Cucco is hatched, target Talon and use ZR to bring him up.
Complete Malon’s Horse Obstacle Course
Go back to Lon Lon Ranch and talk to Malon, located in the main area. She will describe to you an obstacle course and give you a reward if you finish it in less than 40 seconds.
Take Epona and complete the course by finishing two laps. The barriers need to be jumped over and crates have to be avoided throughout the course. Note that after jumping you can’t simply turn but need to approach the jump correctly to avoid hitting obstacles.
It is possible to get through to the end of the game within the permitted time limit even if you collide with one box. The course in the video is completed in 36 seconds and 43 milliseconds despite one bump against an object.
If you finish the course in under 40 seconds, you will get a cow as a reward, which is going to be sent to Link’s residence in Kokiri Forest.
How to Get Unlimited Lon Lon Milk
Once you are finished the obstacle course, go back to Kokiri Forest and go into Link’s house. Inside, you will see the cow.
To obtain milk, you need to be next to the cow with your bottle ready, while you are playing Epona’s Song. The cow will hear the song and the production of milk will begin. Your bottle will fill with Lon Lon Milk.
You may repeat the process as many times as you wish. In case you happen to have several bottles, you can repeat the process until you fill them all.
