You’re wandering through the Taobab Grassland, maybe hunting for Octoroks or just exploring the southern reaches of Hyrule, when you see it. It’s impossible to miss. It towers over the other horses, a massive wall of muscle and dark fur with a shock of fiery orange mane. This isn’t your average pony. This is the Breath of the Wild big horse, formally known as the Giant Horse, and honestly, it’s one of the coolest secrets hidden in plain sight.
Most players spend their time looking for Epona or trying to find a five-star speed horse near Ridgeland Tower. Those are great for zipping across the map. But the Giant Horse? It’s a different beast entirely. It’s a tank. It doesn't have a stamina wheel because it never needs to gallop; its base walking speed is so high that it practically outruns other horses anyway. Plus, let’s be real—riding a horse that looks like it belonged to Ganondorf himself is a major power trip.
Getting it isn't exactly a walk in the park, though. You can't just stroll up and hop on. Well, you can, but you’ll probably get bucked into the dirt before you can say "Hylia."
Where to Find the Giant Horse
If you’re looking to track down the Breath of the Wild big horse, you need to head to the Faron region. Specifically, you’re looking for the Taobab Grassland. It’s tucked away in the Oseira Valley, just west of the Lake Tower.
The geography here is a bit of a trap. The valley is narrow, flanked by steep cliffs, and it feels like a natural corral. When you arrive, you’ll see a herd of normal-sized horses. In the center of them stands the giant. It is significantly larger than its peers—roughly twice the size of a standard mount. Its coat is black as night, and its mane is a deep, burnt orange.
You’ll want to approach from the south. Why? Because if you come from the north, you have to deal with two Lynels that patrol the path out. If you’re early in the game, those Lynels will turn Link into a pancake before you even reach the Highland Stable.
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The Taming Process (Bring Stamina)
Taming this beast is a raw stat check. Unlike regular horses where you might need one or two stamina wheels to soothe them, the Breath of the Wild big horse is stubborn. It’s a brute.
You’re going to need roughly two full wheels of stamina to successfully soothe it. If you haven't upgraded your stamina at a Goddess Statue yet, don't panic. Just cook up some "Enduring" foods. Throw five Endura Carrots into a pot, and you’ll get a meal that gives you an extra yellow stamina wheel. You’ll need it.
- Sneak up. Use stealth gear if you have it (the Sheikah set is perfect). Crouch. Move slowly. If the horse hears you, it’ll bolt, and watching a horse that big run away is actually kind of terrifying.
- The Mount. Once you’re close enough, jump on.
- The Struggle. Immediately start mashing the 'L' button to soothe. Link will look tiny on this thing’s back. Your stamina will drain fast. Keep mashing. If you run out of green stamina, eat your Enduring meal mid-tame to keep going.
Eventually, the horse will settle. The music changes, the horse bows its head, and suddenly, you’re the owner of the most intimidating mount in the game.
Stats and Why the Lack of Stamina Matters
Here is the weird part: when you take the Breath of the Wild big horse to a stable, the guy behind the counter is going to freak out. He’ll tell you he’s never seen anything like it. When the stat screen pops up, you’ll notice something strange.
- Strength: 5 Stars
- Speed: 2 Stars
- Stamina: None. Zero.
Wait, no stamina?
Normally, you press 'A' to spur your horse, using up a stamina carrot to get a burst of speed. The Giant Horse doesn't have carrots. You can’t spur it. At first glance, this looks like a deal-breaker. You might think, "Why would I want a slow horse that can’t gallop?"
But here is the catch. Because of its massive stride, the Giant Horse's "canter" (its top cruising speed) is actually faster than the gallop of most mid-tier horses. It covers ground like a freight train. Once it hits its top speed, it just stays there. You don't have to manage a stamina bar. You just steer.
Furthermore, its 5-star strength isn't just for show. This horse is a bulldozer. When you’re riding it, you can trample small enemies like Chu-Chus, Bokoblins, and even wolves without slowing down. Most horses will stop or veer off if they hit an obstacle or an enemy. The big horse just keeps moving. It has the highest health pool of any mount in the game, making it incredibly hard for enemies to kill.
The Long Trek to the Stable
Once you've tamed the Breath of the Wild big horse, the real challenge begins. You have to get it to a stable to register it. The closest one is the Highland Stable, but the path there is a nightmare.
As I mentioned earlier, the Oseira Valley is guarded by two Lynels. If you’re confident, you can try to ride past them. The Giant Horse has enough HP to take a hit, but a Lynel’s shock arrow is no joke.
The trick is to stay to the edges of the canyon. Don't stop. Don't try to fight them while on the horse. Just keep that "canter" going and weave through the trees. After you clear the Lynels, you’ll run into a group of Bokoblins on horseback near the bridge. They’re annoying, but compared to Lynels, they’re nothing. Just plow through them.
Once you reach the Highland Stable, talk to the clerk. You can name him whatever you want, but "Ganonhoof" or "Behemoth" seem to be popular choices for obvious reasons.
Note: You cannot customize the gear on the Giant Horse. The stable hands will tell you that they don't have any saddles or bridles big enough to fit him. You're stuck with the default "Giant" gear, which looks like heavy, primitive leather. Honestly, it fits the aesthetic perfectly.
Is it Actually Based on Ganondorf’s Horse?
While the game never explicitly says "This is Ganondorf's horse," the evidence is pretty overwhelming. In the opening cutscene of Ocarina of Time, Ganondorf is seen riding a massive black steed with the exact same color scheme—black coat, orange mane.
Even in Breath of the Wild, the location where you find the horse, the Taobab Grassland, is right next to the Mount Nabooru and Spectacle Rock areas, which are heavily associated with the Gerudo. There’s a side quest at the Mounted Archery Drill called "Hunt for the Giant Horse" given by an NPC named Straia. He’s specifically researching the species because of its rarity and historical significance.
It feels like a piece of history you’ve stumbled upon. Hyrule is a graveyard of old legends, and this horse is a living relic of the King of Evil’s past.
How to Use the Giant Horse Effectively
You shouldn't use the Breath of the Wild big horse for everything. If you're trying to navigate the tight, winding paths of the Akkala region or the steep cliffs of Lanayru, he’s going to feel clunky. He has a terrible turning radius. It’s like trying to parallel park a semi-truck in a grocery store parking lot.
Best uses for the Giant Horse:
- Trampling Guardians: If you’re good at timing, you can actually use the horse’s bulk to knock Decayed Guardians around.
- Crossing the Great Plateau Foothills: The long, flat stretches of the Faron and Central Hyrule regions are where this horse shines.
- Combat: Because he doesn't flinch as easily as other horses, you can stay in the saddle longer during a fight with a Hinox or a Stone Talus.
Interestingly, the Giant Horse is also a "special" mount, similar to the White Stallion (Zelda's horse). This means if he ever dies—and it takes a lot to kill him—you’ll definitely want to visit the Horse God, Malanya, at the Horse God Bridge in Faron. For the price of an Endura Carrot, Malanya can bring your big buddy back from the grave.
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The Mounted Archery Problem
One thing to keep in mind: do not take this horse to the Mounted Archery Drill mini-game if you're trying to get the high score. You need speed and precision there. The Giant Horse is too wide and its lack of a "spur" gallop makes it hard to adjust your timing for the targets. Use a 5-star speed horse for that. Use the big horse when you want to look like an absolute unit while riding into Hyrule Field.
Actionable Steps for Your Hunt
If you're ready to grab the Breath of the Wild big horse right now, here is exactly what you should do:
- Prep your inventory. Cook 2-3 "Enduring" dishes. Five Endura Carrots in a pot is the gold standard.
- Warp to Owa Daim Shrine (on the Great Plateau). From there, paraglide south into the Oseira Valley. This saves you from having to walk through the Lynel territory on the way in.
- Spot the herd. Look for the massive orange mane.
- Land behind him. If you paraglide directly onto his back, you skip the sneaking phase.
- Soothe like crazy. Use your stamina meals as soon as your green bar hits the red zone.
- Ride South/East. Don't go back toward the Plateau. Follow the path toward the Highland Stable.
- Register him. Keep 20 rupees handy for the registration fee.
The Giant Horse isn't just a gimmick; it's a testament to the scale of the world Nintendo built. It changes the way you interact with the environment. You stop worrying about stamina management and start feeling like an unstoppable force. Whether you're a lore hunter looking for Ganondorf's legacy or just a player who wants a horse that can run over a Moblin without blinking, the Big Horse is an essential addition to your stable. Just don't expect him to win any races in the tight woods of the Korok Forest. He's built for power, not grace.
Once you have him registered, try taking him to the bridge over Lake Hylia at night. There's something incredibly atmospheric about crossing that massive stone bridge on an equally massive horse while the Farosh dragon circles overhead. It’s one of those "only in Zelda" moments that makes the hunt totally worth it.