Princess Zelda's runaway Golden Horse is a must have addition to your own stable of mounts, and while it's a bit of a slog to capture, it's worth it.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is Breath of the Wild but better, is the general consensus. Nintendo has built on a lot of the existing elements and rolled out a ton of new ones; but one of the things that hasn't changed is horses. You can even import your Breath of the Wild horses to Tears of the Kingdom if you feel particularly attached to any of them.
And just like Breath of the Wild's Royal White Stallion, the Tears of the Kingdom Golden Horse is another royal mount that offers excellent speed, and strength, as well as a fancy new saddle and bridle to boot. You may have even caught a glimpse of it at Snowfield Stable already before you start the related quest and it bolts. It's not made for hauling carts around but if you want to traverse Hyrule in style, with a horse that has max strength and speed, the Golden Horse is it.
You can also upgrade Zelda's Golden Horse by visiting Malanya the Horse God, so not only is it a good option for the early game, once you've beefed it up, you can keep on riding that thing around and using it for all manner of tasks. It's definitely worth the trouble to get it, and on that note, here's how to the Tears of the Kingdom Golden Horse.
What you need to get the Tears of the Kingdom Golden Horse
There's a number of things you'll need to prepare before you run off to get your hands on the Tears of the Kingdom. Some are a must, while others serve to just make the process easier. Any tips that work for catching wild horses also apply to Zelda's Golden Horse:
- Cold resistance
- Stamina replenishment
- Increased stealth
- Purah Pad Sensor+
Cold resistance and stamina replenishment are a must; the Golden Horse location is in the cold, so the Archaic Warm Greaves or Snowquill armor set from Rito Village will serve you well. Alternatively you can rustle up some recipes to keep you toasty, but the armour is less of a hassle.
You need stamina to tame horses, and Zelda's Golden Horse will suck up more than the average wild stallion or mare. Food or elixirs that boost Link's stamina are a must, so take plenty with you. Sneaking up on horses is part of the dance and the more stealthy you are the better. If you can take along anything for a stealth boost, it'll help – but isn't a necessity.
Likewise, the upgraded Purah Pad with Sensor+ isn't a prerequisite by any means, but it can guide you towards anything you have in your compendium – like a horse!
Tears of the Kingdom Golden Horse location
The Tears of the Kingdom Golden Horse location is in the north of Tabantha Tundra but you can't just head straight there. You'll need to kick off a questline first, otherwise Zelda's horse will just be hanging out at Snowfield Stable minding its own business, and not interested in carting Link around at all.
Lucky Clover Gazette
Head to the Lucky Clover Gazette to the east of Rito Village and speak to Penn and Traysi to kick things off. If you've used our Great Fairy Fountain locations guide, you'll have already spoken to the pair and have the Potential Princess Sightings side quest on the go. If not, speak to them now and pick it up. You'll be tasked with visiting every stable in Hyrule, but make a beeline for Snowfield Stable.
Snowfield Stable
Snowfield Stable is located in Tabantha Tundra, not too far from the Great Fairy Mija's fountain. The stable is just off the road that runs along the southeast border of the area. Penn will be here chatting with another NPC, Harlow. Talk to them to receive the Zelda’s Golden Horse quest and don't ignore the warning about the monster that also lies out that way.
Before you set out, you can use the Snowfield Stable cooking pot to whip up stamina and stealth boosting recipes, as well as anything to help with cold resistance if you're not appropriately kitted out.
Zelda's Golden Horse location
Once you're ready to set off to Zelda's Golden Horse location and wrangle that thing, head towards North Tabantha Snowfield. The monster you were warned about is the Frost Gleeok and you may want to give it a wide berth for now, unless you're feeling up to the challenge. The Golden Horse will be roaming in this area.
It's a tad more skittish than wild horses, so sneak up as best you can and if all else fails, make a last minute dash when you're close enough to guarantee you can mount it. Get ready to keep your stamina up as it tries to buck you off! Once you've managed to tame it, ride back to Snowfield Stable and speak with Penn and Harlow again.
Zelda's Golden Horse is now ready to be yours, so be sure to register it at the stable. Harlow will also give you a Royal Bridle and Royal Saddle to kit out your Golden Horse with.
