Races in The Legend of Zelda series

This is a list of races in "The Legend of Zelda" series of video games.

Animal tribe

The Animal tribe is composed of the various talking animals that appear within the series. While the Animals seem to have a society in many of the games, they only show true civilization in "Link's Awakening", where many reside within the Animal Village. However, the nature of their island is that of a dream, so it is uncertain whether they could truly show civilization in other games. However, the monkeys seem to have a rudimentary monarchy in "Oracle of Ages", where a tribe of about twenty members is led by their "Princess", and in "Majora's Mask" they are friends of the Deku Royal Family. In "Oracle of Seasons", the boxing penguin Blaino owns his own dojo.

In "A Link to the Past", while animals are not inherently able to speak, the Flute Boy is said to be able to speak to them with his flute. The intelligent talking owl Kaepora Gaebora appears in "Ocarina of Time", "Majora's Mask", and "Four Swords Adventures", though "Ocarina of Time" credits this to his being a reincarnation of an ancient sage, rather than a normal owl. Many talking animals appear within the "Oracle of Ages" and "Oracle of Seasons" games, though the manga for these games claims that Link’s ability to talk to them is unique and a result of him being the chosen hero, rather than an ability of the animals'. Though Link can speak to animals in "The Minish Cap" and "Twilight Princess", this is only due to his ability to assume Minish and wolf form, respectively, and animals' claimed ability to understand each other. Furthermore, none of the animals within either game show any hints of society, besides a gang of twenty cats led by a Cucco in "Twilight Princess". He is also able to speak to certain animals in "Ocarina of Time" and "Majora's Mask" using the "Mask of Truth" and "Don Gero's Mask". However, there are also other animals, such as the Beaver Brothers, that require no mask to speak to, and go so far as to wear clothes.

Anouki tribe

The Anouki tribe first appear in "". They live on the Isle of Frost, and have the appearance of plump Eskimos with antlers, penguin wings, and bird feet. Anouki are typically confused very easily, which results in them getting dizzy. They share the island with the Yook, whom they dislike very much, which explains why they always refer to them as "hairy, crazed weirdos."

Cobble

The Cobble are an ancient race of humans in "", some of which have prophetic ability. They made many weapons to fight, protecting the Ocean King, and in return they were once the greatest kingdom in the Great Sea. In "Phantom Hourglass", there are only a few surviving Cobbles, and the ghosts of the monarchs rest on the remains of the kingdom at the Isle of the Dead and Isle of Ruins.

Deku

The Deku (nihongo|デクナッツ|Dekunattsu) are a race of plant-like creatures that are introduced in "". They are found mostly in the overworld and dungeons. Their name is derived from nihongo|"Wooden Doll"|『木偶』|"Deku",Fact|date=July 2008 and they are named "Deku Nuts" in the Japanese games.

Deku are generally short and have leaves sprouting out from their heads. They often have red, glowing eyes, and their mouths are short, hollow tubes. Deku shoot "Deku Nuts" out of their mouths to attack enemies, bearing some similarity to the rock-spitting Octoroks. Deku's bodies consist entirely of wood and leaves, and they perish quickly if set on fire. According to the Deku Scrubs in "", anyone who becomes lost in the Lost Woods will eventually turn into a Deku Scrub.

In "Majora's Mask", Deku Scrubs are sometimes seen flying by using large samara-like leaves. Business Scrubs can fly using the leaves on their heads for indefinite periods. However, both modes of flight require takeoff from Deku Flowers. Link is usually able to use these Deku Flowers, although in "Majora's Mask" he must be in Deku form. The Deku Flowers in "Majora's Mask" come in pink and yellow varieties—yellow Deku Flowers propel Link much higher and for longer than the pink. In "Oracle of Seasons", Deku Flowers are only active in the spring.

In "", Link is able to turn himself into a Deku Scrub. He is trapped in this form at the beginning of the game, though once he retrieves the Ocarina of Time, he can enter and exit the form at will. Link's Deku form has a number of useful abilities, such as a spinning attack which stuns or harms enemies, and the ability to use Deku Flowers, which allow him to hover through the air and attack enemies from above by dropping Deku Nuts like flash grenades. He is also capable of skipping on the surface of bodies of water for a while, though he will eventually sink. After he is imbued with fairy magic, he can also fire bubbles of magic through his mouth.

There are four types of Deku depicted in the series: Deku Scrubs, Mad Scrubs, Business Scrubs and Royal Scrubs.

Deku Scrubs have green leaves and are the most common type. They often give information when caught.

Mad Scrubs have red and yellow leaves and are not known to talk. As their name suggests, they tend to be the most violent type of Scrub. In "Ocarina of Time", they will attack with Deku Nuts, unprovoked, even from a distance. Once struck, a Mad Scrub is ejected from its Deku Flower, and will flee without counterattack until it finds another burrow in which to hide. Mad Scrubs will sink in water, and can apparently breathe under water as well, although they become immobilized.

Business Scrubs are seemingly more intelligent than most Deku Scrubs, as is evident by the fact that they have entered the world of commerce. They sport rounder bodies and longer legs than their cousins, and their leaves are green. They generally offer to sell their wares and services when approached or forcibly coerced into vending.

Royal Scrubs have larger heads, bigger eyes, smaller mouths, and some even have arms and legs. The leaves that make up their hair are sparser and resemble a topknot, and they also have extra leaves covering their body, similar to a robe.

In general, Deku are rather territorial, pelting those who approach their hiding places with Deku Nuts. They are typically cowardly creatures, and will hide or run from any potential threat that is not halted by their nut-spitting defenses. They typically reside in Deku Flowers, from which they may emerge from time to time. Business Scrubs in "Majora's Mask" hold property titles for their Deku Flowers, showing that these act as long term homes to the Deku that own them.

In "Ocarina of Time", the few Deku Scrubs within the Great Deku Tree seem to follow Queen Gohma ["The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time", Deku Scrub: "In order to administer the coup de grace to Queen Gohma, strike with your sword while she's stunned. Oh, Queenie... Sorry about that!"] , who is sent as a curse by Ganondorf to destroy the tree. A mini-boss in the tree also consists of the "Deku Scrub Brothers", three Dekus who have to be struck in a certain order to be defeated. [cite web| |url=http://www.zelda.com/universe/pedia/d.jsp#DekuScrubBros. |title=Deku Scrub Bros. at the Great Hyrule Encyclopedia|publisher=Zelda.com | language= |accessdate=2007-06-08]

The world of Termina is host to a tribe of Deku Scrubs, whose affairs are concerned with the nearby Woodfall Temple. These Deku demonstrate a form of government, with a "Deku King" that presumably rules over all other Deku in the land of Termina. Deku society is depicted similarly to that of the Zora, bearing a Royal family and its subjects. In Deku form, Link converses more openly with them, showing these Deku Scrubs to be quite intelligent. The Deku Scrubs of Termina are shown to be quite reclusive, believing themselves to be superior to other races, and intolerant of outsiders. [;"The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask", Deku guard: "This is the royal palace of the Deku Kingdom. This is no place for outsiders."] Terminan Deku Scrubs traditionally play large Deku Pipes for use in ceremonies. In "Majora's Mask", the Deku Princess is said to have used the pipes to gain access to Woodfall Temple. Link himself plays the Deku pipes in place of his ocarina when in Deku form.

The Deku Scrubs in "" live in the Lost Woods because of the shade it provides. They serve Ganon in his attempts to conquer Hyrule both because he revived them from some kind of slumber, and because he has promised to reward them by covering the world in forest, thus allowing the Deku Scrubs to travel anywhere.

Fairy

Fairies (nihongo|妖精|Yousei) are a magical and benevolent race, introduced in "The Legend of Zelda". They appear in every game, always aiding Link in his quest in some way. Fairies appear as humanoids, often small, winged, and obscured by emitted light. They can be found in many places, but usually reside in a Fairy Fountain or Fairy Spring, sometimes under the protection of a Great Fairy. These Fairies from the fountains will heal Link when he approaches and Link can put them in Bottles for later use. If Link dies while carrying a bottled Fairy with him, it will resurrect him. There are four different kinds of Fairies: Healing Fairies, Guardian Fairies, Stray Fairies, and Great Fairies. In "Four Swords Adventures", they are called Force Fairies.

In "Ocarina of Time", there are Guardian Fairies who guard the Kokiri and give them advice. One of these is , who serves as Link's guardian fairy.

The physical appearance of Fairies tends to change between games. In early games and "The Wind Waker", they appear as small, young girls with wings and wands, while in later games they emit a light that is so bright that the body of the Fairy can not be seen and it tends to look like a ball of colored light with four wings protruding out of the range of the light. The color of the light the Fairy gives off differs and sometimes changes as an emotional reaction. However, some Fairies do not give off light at all.

In the non-canonical animated series, the Fairies have established a kingdom and have a king, Oberon. He has a daughter named Sprite, but his wife does not appear.

Fishman

The Fishmen are a race of blue fish with human-like faces. In "", they are responsible for giving Link information on various sectors of the Great Sea, and they would fill in the appropriate part of his map the first time he talked to them. They were apparently very skilled information-gatherers, as they seemed to know the King of Red Lions and were sometimes found giving him information, saying they were repaying their debt to the king by doing so. After talking to Link the first time, the Fishmen will ask Link to ease their aching necks by shooting arrows at them.

Goblins

Moblins and Pig Warriors

Moblins are humanoid, bulldog-like monsters that usually reside within forests; indeed, their name is derived from nihongo|"Forest"|森|Mori and ""Goblin"". They are sometimes accompanied by Pig Warriors (known in Japan as "Butablin", derived from nihongo|"Pig"|豕|Buta and "Goblin"), monsters with the same basic form but more porcine characteristics. These two types of monster were separate up until "Oracle of Ages" and "Oracle of Seasons", in which Pig Warriors were eliminated and Moblins were given their porcine characteristics. Moblin/Pig Warriors commonly wield spears, swords, or bows. They are one of the most common enemies within the games they appear, and are considered "mighty", but also "dumb". ["The Wind Waker", Moblin Figurine: "These mighty enemies swing their long spears with the greatest of ease."] ["The Minish Cap, Swiftblade: "Those pig-faced Moblins...You see them around the Minish Woods, right? They're big and dumb? Well, they're also rich!"] They are described as greedy, self-possessed creatures, and the major antagonist will commonly use them as mercenaries or summoned monsters.cite web | url=http://www.zelda.com/universe/pedia/m.jsp#Moblin|author=Nintendo | title=The Great Hyrule Encyclopedia - Moblin | publisher=Zelda Universe |year=January 1, 2006| accessdate=2007-06-11]

Few Moblins are actually identified as characters within the series — the only Moblins given characterization within the series are the Moblin King ("Link's Awakening"), the Great Moblin ("Oracle of Ages" and "Oracle of Seasons"), Moe ("The Wind Waker"), and the Monster Lady ("The Minish Cap").

Golden Frogs

The Golden Frogs are a race appearing in "Phantom Hourglass" that have the ability to travel through the seas using Cyclones. They are led by the Golden Chief Cylos, whose name and appearance resemble that of , the god of cyclones. The Golden Frogs call the Uncharted Island home, although six frogs are scattered throughout the Great Sea.

Goron tribe

The Gorons (nihongo|ゴロン|Goron) are a race of strong but peaceful mountain-dwelling rock-eaters who appear in ', ', ', ', ', ', ', ' and "". Their name is derived from the Japanese onomatopoeia "goro goro", which refers to a rumbling noise like that of a rolling rock.

Goron culture apparently revolves around brotherhood and strength. In ', Darunia refers to both the King of Hyrule ["The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time", Darunia: "Has Darunia, the big boss of the Gorons, really lost so much status to be treated like this by his Sworn Brother, the King?"] and Link ["The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time", Darunia: "How's about you and I become Sworn Brothers?!" [...] Brother! You'll keep brushing up on your skills as you travel, won't you? [...] Hey, everybody! Let's see off our Brother!"] as "Sworn Brothers" and "Brothers", and in ', Gorons often call many other characters "Brother". Gorons show high regard for individuals who display great strength, and particularly enjoy matching their strength with others in sumo wrestling matches (as seen in ""). By beating an elder, Gor Coron, in a sumo wrestling contest (using the Iron Boots to even the playing field), Link demonstrates his strength and garners enough Goron respect to gain access to their mines.

While not all the games which feature Gorons include full tribes, those that do depict Goron polity as headed by a single patriarch, sometimes aided by one or more Goron Elders, who assume leadership of the tribe when the patriarch cannot.

For leisure, Gorons enjoy music and dance, rolling/racing, ["The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time", Goron: “This wild rolling is the only way to relieve my stress!” […] “Let me express my joy with more wild rolling!”] games, ["The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages", Goron: "We Gorons love games!"] sumo wrestling, and bathing in hot springs. However, by the time of "Twilight Princess", sumo wrestling is losing its popularity with younger Gorons. ["The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess", Goron: “I suppose it is because young Gorons these days have no interest in old arts like sumo.”]

Gorons have taken on occupations such as crafting, blacksmithing, sculpting, demolition, and merchantry. In "The Wind Waker", there are three wandering merchant characters who appear to be Gorons, although it is never explicitly made clear, and in "Twilight Princess", several Gorons set up shop in Kakariko Village and Hyrule Castle Town. ["The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess", Goron: “I sell stuff across from the bomb shop at night. I hope to see you there, Brother!”] The Gorons in "Twilight Princess" also have a regular trade with Kakariko Village, though this trade is suspended during the incident with and the Fused Shadow. They have also constructed the Goron Mines, a large mining complex within Death Mountain, to accumulate goods for this trade, using elevators and magnetic cranes.

In appearance, Gorons are humanoids with generally beige skin, whose long arms, short legs, hulking shoulders, and virtually unnoticeable necks. Gorons seen in the games have round, purple eyes as well as prominent, rotund bellies. Unlike humans, Gorons lack external hearing organs; like reptiles, Gorons' ears are simply holes at the sides of their heads. By adulthood, Gorons appear to gain rock-like protrusions on their backs as well as in places where human hair would be on their faces, and, in "Twilight Princess", their arms. However, some Goron patriarchs and elders have hair growing on their faces and heads, along with their nipples and navels.

Size is variable in the Goron species; while most Gorons are about the size of an average human, a few grow to exaggeratedly huge sizes, such as , who is almost as big as Death Mountain, on which he lives, and his younger brother , who is smaller but still fills the size of a tunnel through which a normal Goron could easily walk through.

Due to their great density, Gorons sink to the bottom of bodies of water and are thus helpless in such an environment. ["The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask", Darmani's memorial: "Water is disastrous for Goron heroes, for they sink like stones and are rendered motionless in the deep. Beware."] However, it is shown in "Twilight Princess" that while Gorons do breathe, the act is not necessary underwater and therefore they cannot drown. ["The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess", Goron: “I am practicing holding my breath, so do not bother me, Brother! ...But no matter how much time passes, I never feel the need to inhale! It is strange...”] Gorons are exceptionally resistant to heat, to the point of being able to walk through shallow lava, but are weakened by cold conditions. ["http://www.nintendoland.com/zelda/oze/entry.php?id=64": “The Skull Kid torments them by bringing deadly winters in the middle of spring and nearly freezing the Gorons to death until Link saves them. That is one other thing the Gorons do not like- the cold.”]

Gorons maintain a diet of rocks and iron. ["The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap", Goron figurine: "These rock- and iron-eaters once lived on Mount Crenel in Western Hyrule."] ["The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time", Goron: "You shouldn't be so picky about what you eat! Do you eat all of your green rocks? If you don't, you won't grow up big and strong!"] It is mentioned in "Twilight Princess" that Gorons are living rocks.Fact|date=May 2007 They also eat rock sirloin, amber and metal shields as delicacies, plus young Gorons are shown to like wood hearts.

Gorons enter the fetal position for several purposes, such as resting, crushing obstacles, assaulting enemies, and transportation by rolling to great speeds. Gorons endowed with fairy magic can grow stone spikes while rolling. ["The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask", Darmani's memorial: "If Gorons who possess magic power roll swiftly enough, spikes will emerge from their bodies so that they may mow down enemies."] This curled-up position also creates an impression of a rock, serving as camouflage.

Gorons are capable of reproduction, as Darunia produces a child in "Ocarina of Time", but how this is possible is unexplained; although Gorons are referenced with masculine pronouns in in-game dialog, their gender is never addressed.

Ho Ho tribe

The Ho Ho are a tribe of treasure seeking sailors hailing from the faraway land of Wayaway featured in "The Wind Waker" and "Phantom Hourglass". They are depicted as short, blond men looking through a telescope. During "The Wind Waker" there appears to be only one Ho Ho named who is thought to be constantly traveling. It is later revealed in "Phantom Hourglass" that he is part of the Ho Ho tribe. Ho Ho are always seen looking through their telescopes for treasure, with the exception of one who has lost his telescope.

Human

Gerudo

The Gerudo (nihongo|ゲルド|Gerudo) are a tribe of shrewd thieves who appear in ', ', and "". Stylistically, many aspects of Gerudo dress, environment, and combat were probably inspired by Arabian culture. Functionally, they suggest Amazons.

In most instances, the Gerudo are depicted as desert-dwellers. In "Ocarina of Time", the Gerudo guard their fortress near the Haunted Wasteland, which lies to the far west of Hyrule Castle; in "Four Swords Adventures", they live in tents amid the Desert of Doubt; and in "" (though the race itself does not appear in the game, Ganondorf excepted) the Gerudo Desert implies the race’s eponymous occupation of the region in the past. "Majora's Mask" stands alone as the only game in which the Gerudo do not reside in an utterly arid climate; instead, as pirates, they make their stead in a fortress on the coast of the Great Bay, west of Clock Town.

Perhaps the most peculiar attribute of the Gerudo race pertains to its gender distribution; with the exception of a single male born every hundred years, the race consists entirely of women. By Gerudo law, this man must become king of the tribe. ["The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time", Nabooru: “A kid like you may not know this, but the Gerudo race consists only of women. Only one man is born every hundred years... Even though our laws say that lone male Gerudo must become King of the Gerudo, I'll never bow to such an evil man!”] Ganondorf, the most notable Gerudo and chief antagonist of the series, is one such man and serves as both King and god of the Gerudo in "Ocarina of Time". ["The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time", Gossip Stone: "They say that Gerudos worship Ganondorf almost like a god."] Concordantly, Ganondorf stands as the only man whom the Gerudo do not find “useless” by default (Link gains Gerudo respect only after demonstrating his thieving skills by freeing the carpenters from Gerudo Fortress). ["The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time", Gerudo: “I used to think that all men, besides the great Ganondorf, were useless...” ] Despite their negative opinions of men, it is suggested that Gerudo are forced to seek out men from outside the tribe to procreate in light of their sexual deficit. ["The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time", Gossip Stone: "They say that Gerudos sometimes come to Hyrule Castle Town to look for boyfriends."]

Distinguishing physical traits of Gerudo typically include rich, bronzed skin (particularly evil members of the race, such as Twinrova and Ganondorf, have vaguely green-tinted skin), scarlet hair, aquiline noses, gold eyes, and — unlike the Hylia — round ears. The "Twilight Princess" character resembles a Gerudo, however her true ethnicity is never revealed. Similarly, the pirate in "Phantom Hourglass" looks and acts like to a Gerudo, although she has black hair, instead of red.

It is implied in "Twilight Princess" that Ganondorf once led the Gerudo to establish dominion over the Sacred Realm, ["The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess", Sage: “He was the leader of a band of thieves who invaded Hyrule in the hopes of establishing dominion over the Sacred Realm.”] though to apparent stymie. The Sages later tried to execute Ganondorf for his various crimes, but underestimated his power foolishly bringing him to the Mirror Chamber where he was able to revitalize his power and escape, setting in motion the events of the game.

Hylia

The nihongo|Hylia| ハイリア族|Hairia-zoku are an elf-like [ [http://zelda.com/universe/pedia/h.jsp Zelda Universe ] ] race of humans from the fictional world of Hyrule. [The games do not depict a race called "Elves"—Nintendo has only made this comparison in comment of the games.]

The Hylia were the first race to establish organized civilization in ancient Hyrule, though in the English version of "Twilight Princess", the Oocca are said to have created them; in the Japanese version, the Oocca are instead said to have created Hyrule itself. Hyrule itself is said to have been named after the Hylia. Unlike several other races in the series, they tend to live in highly populated towns.

According to the original [The manual provided with the American remake of ' for the Game Boy Advance does not mention the Hylia at all, instead focusing on the history of the Triforce and the events immediately precipitating the game.] ' instruction manual, Hylians were born with magic-infused blood, endowing them with psychic powers and skill in wizardry, while according to the Japanese manual, these powers are gifts from the gods. The manuals also claim that a Hylian's long, pointed ears (their only known physical difference from regular humans) allows him to hear messages from the gods.

In "", most Hylians seem to live within the fortified walls of Hyrule Castle Town or the small, neighboring Kakariko Village. Besides living in the marketplace, other citizens of the kingdom inhabit territory outside of the protected town.

heikah

The Sheikah (nihongo|シーカー|Shīkā) were an ancient clan of ninja-like warriors that swore to protect the Hylian Royal Family, and were often referred to as the "shadows" of the Hylians. ["The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time", old man: "Have you heard the legend of the "Shadow Folk"? They are the Sheikah...the shadows of the Hylians. They say they swore allegiance to the King of Hyrule and guarded the Royal Family."] At the time of "Ocarina of Time", the only known surviving member of the tribe is Impa, Princess Zelda's nursemaid. During Link's adulthood Zelda disguises herself as a Sheikah named Sheik. Little is known of the tribe, but it has been implied that the Sheikah were incredibly agile and had magical prowess similar to Hylians.

From the few appearances the Sheikah have made in the series, we can assume that the Sheikah had red eyes, as both Impa in the "Ocarina of Time" and Zelda in her Sheikah guise do. from "Twilight Princess", who is implied to be a descendant of Impa from "Ocarina of Time", also has red eyes, though it is not explained whether or not she is truly a Sheikah.

The Sheikah's symbol of a crying eye is commonly seen in the series, even in games where the Sheikah are not present. The symbol appears on the Gossip Stones in "Ocarina of Time" and "Majora's Mask", though the tear has been distorted or changed to resemble a grinning mouth. In "The Wind Waker", the symbol is seen on artifacts inside the Forsaken Fortress. Zelda also bears the symbol of the Sheikah on her cloak in "Twilight Princess". In the "Ocarina of Time" manga it is explained by Sheik that the symbol of the Sheikah used to only consist of a normal eye but was changed when a betrayal occurred, context suggests the Royal Family somehow betrayed the Sheikah and the teardrop was added to represent the sorrow of the Sheikah.

In "Twilight Princess", Link visits a rundown village hidden in a mountain pass, where he meets Impaz, the last surviving member of the Sheikah tribe. She passes on the book of sky writing to Link, because he is the hero for whom she was destined to wait.

Wind Tribe

The Wind Tribe is a group of humanoids who live inside the Tower of the Winds upon the Cloud Tops, as well as guarding the Palace of Winds in '. They used to populate the Wind Ruins, but moved to the Cloud Tops to escape the problems growing on the surface . They claim to be very skilled in finding Kinstones, and in fact have more than they can deal with. They can use the wind to travel, not needing anything like the parachute Link needs, and also say that they use their power over the wind to support their tower. These people seem to have later been expelled by Vaati, since he is seen dwelling in the Palace of Winds in ' and "".

Other Humans

Besides the specialized races of humans such as the Gerudo and Hylia, there are others more similar to real-world humans. These humans seem to be the dominant race in the games they appear in, and have ears ranging from rounded to almost as pointy as a Hylian's. In games with many Hylia, these humans are almost nonexistant, but they are the majority race in all other games.

In "", a settlement called is located south of Faron Woods. Except for Link, all of its inhabitants are generic humans. They are farmers and apparently quite successful, since products from Ordon Village can even be found in the most northern regions.

There are several instances within the series where other races may be referred to as "humans". In ', for example, all human races (including Link) within the game are called humans, and the same occurs within '. It is usually assumed that the people in Castle Town and Hyrule Town in those games are Hylian, as they possess the characteristic long, pointed ears of the race.

Kokiri

The Kokiri (nihongo|コキリ|Kokiri) are a humanoid fairy race in ' who inhabit the Kokiri Forest. Cautious, child-like, and secretive, they believe that they will die if they leave the forest. ["The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time", Kokiri boy:"' "The Great Deku Tree said that if a Kokiri leaves the woods, he or she will die!"] It is also suggested that if they wander too deep into the forest and remain there for too long, they will eventually become Skull Kids. These beliefs stop most of them from ever leaving their part of the forest. The superstitions are eventually proven false, as most of the Kokiri children are seen celebrating with everyone else at Lon Lon Ranch during the credits.

Though they resemble Hylian children, the Kokiri are ageless and never grow old. Each Kokiri has a guardian fairy that plays the role of friend, parent, guardian, and teacher. They are watched over by the Great Deku Tree, and later , the Sage of Forest, but is their "boss".

The Kokiri were likely created by the Great Deku Tree. All Kokiri seen wear green tunics and have pointy ears, and the males wear green hats while the females have green headbands. There have been two records of Kokiri sages known to have aided the hero Link. The first is Saria, the Sage of Forest in "Ocarina of Time" and , the Sage of Wind in '. Fado does not make an appearance in Kokiri Forest in ', but instead has a recycled name from another Kokiri who had the name first: a blond, twin-bunned female on the large stump in the Kokiri Forest whose name is not revealed in the game.

It is suggested in "The Wind Waker" that the Kokiri have become the Koroks, due to statements by the Great Deku Tree"The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker", Great Deku Tree: "Once upon a time, long ago, the Korokstook on human forms, but when they came to live on the sea, they took these shapes."] and Fado"The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker", Fado: "Once you do, I'm certain the holder of the instrument will feel the blood of the sages awaken within his veins."] . The words "Kokiri" and "Korok" are also very similar.

Korok

The Koroks (nihongo|コログ|Korogu) are a race from "". They come from an area called the Forest Haven, but spend most of their lives away from it.They have wooden-like bodies (somewhat similar to Deku Scrubs) and wear what look like masks made from various types of leaves. Koroks are very light, and can travel on the wind by using sprouts as propellers. When they move they make a hollow jingling sound.

Most Koroks actually spend most of their lives far away from Forest Haven, planting the seeds of the Great Deku Tree; they only return to Forest Haven once a year, for an annual ceremony held when the Great Deku Tree bears seeds so they can take off again. They plant these seeds in the hope that a large forest will grow, helping to raise the land back above the Great Sea. The only Koroks who do not leave are Makar, who plays his cello at the ceremony, and Hollo, who studies potion-making and uses Boko Baba Seeds to concoct his brews.

In "The Wind Waker", The Great Deku Tree states that the Koroks once had different forms, and Makar (a Korok) is claimed by the Kokiri sage Fado to be his descendant (However, the Japanese version places "descendant" in the context of a successor of the line of Sages, rather than a true relative). This would strongly imply that they are a more natural manifestation of the Kokiri.

Merfolk

It is not clear whether the Merfolk really exist. In ', Link meets a Mermaid named Martha. For returning her necklace ( shell-bikini top in the Japanese version), she gives him one of her scales, which can be used on a statue of a mermaid. However, it should be noted that "Link's Awakening" was a dream, and therefore, Martha is not real. Since it is unclear whether Koholint and its inhabitants are completely made up by the sleeping Wind Fish or rather are part of its memories, it is not certain whether they really exist. Merfolk do not appear in any other game, but they are referenced in the Mermaid's Suit item and the Mermaid's Cave dungeon in ', and by Joanne, a character who dresses up as a mermaid, which she refers to as "a mythological creature," on 's Wayfarer's Isle.

Minish

The Minish (nihongo|ピッコル|Pikkoru) are race of tiny, gnome-like creatures known to Hylians as Picori. They appear in "". They settled in Hyrule after they came from the Sacred Realm . Their Sacred Realm can be reached once a century, when a door within Hyrule Castle's courtyard opens. It is said that when monsters threatened mankind, the Minish gave a legendary sword and a golden light to a courageous man, now known as the Hero of Men, destined to ward off the monsters. They have faded into a Santa Claus-like myth over the past centuries, with parents telling children that they are only seen by good, well behaved children, and most adults doubting their existence. However, the Royal Family of Hyrule guards the secret that the Minish do exist, and that they have small societies all over Hyrule that are accessible via shrinking portals. Most of the Minish in Hyrule came from the first portal opening and seem uninterested in returning to their world. The Minish's goal is to please humans; hence they stay in Hyrule to help humans with day to day tasks such as shoe making and bread baking. It is also explained that the Minish place objects under rocks and weeds to "please people", which explains how the objects such as Rupees and items appeared under these objects during the series.

There are several different types of Minish, defined by where they live: Forest Minish, Town Minish, Mountain Minish and Ancient Picori.

Forest Minish are the most common type of Minish found in Hyrule. They delight in making humans happy by hiding helpful items and Rupees under grass and rocks all over Hyrule. They also harvest Pico Blooms and leave them where humans can find them (humans use the Pico Bloom's nectar to make Picolyte). Forest Minish often wear red caps and some Forest Minish appear to wear clothes made from grass & leaves, others do not. Some also appear to have feather-like tails.

Town Minish like humans so much that they moved from Minish Village into Hyrule Town itself. They make their homes in the rafters and walls of buildings in the town. They try to make humans happy, though it sometimes backfires. Some even work alongside humans, usually without their knowledge, like in Rem's Shoe Store (a reference to the folkloric myth of small fairies or brownies helping cobblers in the night). In Wheaton & Pita's Bakery, the Town Minish may be responsible for the Kinstones sometimes being found in the Bakery's pastries. Town Minish wear clothes made from fibers. Their clothes come in different colors, the most common of which is blue. Other colors include red, brownish-green, and pink. The rarest color according to one Minish is yellow. Town Minish also don't seem to have a feather-like tail at all.

Mountain Minish live in Mount Crenel. There are seven Mountain Minish, excluding their leader Melari. These seven Minish are the students of Melari that followed him from their home in Minish Village to Mount Crenel so they could be closer to the iron ore they use in their metallurgy. As a result their lives revolve around mining ore & working with metal. They seem to wear eye-protectors and appear to be much stronger than other Minish. They also seem to enjoy singing while they work.

Ancient Picori are the Minish that live in a world that exists outside the world of Hyrule. All the Minish that exist in Hyrule are descended from this group of Minish, as the Minish themselves are not of Hylian origin. These Minish were responsible for the creation of both the legendary Picori Blade and the Mythical Light Force. They seem extremely knowledgeable in magic and ways to combat evil. None of these Minish appear in "". The ancestral Picori (Minish) are honored once a year in Hyrule during the Picori Festival.

Oocca

Oocca are creatures with yellowish chicken-like bodies with pale-white, human-like heads. Oocca children look like human heads with wings in place of where the ears would be. They are introduced in "".

The Oocca dwell in the City in the Sky, located above Hyrule. It is claimed by in "Twilight Princess", that the Oocca were the "Sky People", the first race created by the Goddesses, and who in turn created the Hylians; however, in the original Japanese version, he instead claims that they created Hyrule itself. These Sky People also had good relations with the Hylian Royal Family, and had given the Family the Dominion Rod, which Ooccoo claims is the most advanced of their technology.Fact|date=June 2007

Rito

The Rito (nihongo|リト|Rito) are a race of bird-like humanoids in '. Their main dwelling is on Dragon Roost Island, where all known Rito live. A tribal elder acts as their leader, of who has numerous followers and elaborately dressed guards. It is implied that they are related to the Zoras of '. Rito are adept fliers and capable of great speeds, and are able to transport humans for a short time once fully-grown.

No Rito is born with wings. The Rito chick must journey to the tribes' guardian deity, the great dragon , to attain one of his scales which enables the Rito to grow wings. It is treated as a coming-of-age ceremony among the Rito to journey to the great Valoo to receive a scale. When the wings are not in use, they resemble long, flowing sleeves. This allows the Rito to use their hands instead of always having wings.

Rito are widely accepted among Hyruleans as mail carriers, as only they can traverse the seas without the aid of cumbersome ships.

A Rito named Medli tells Link that the Rito were once without wings. It is also revealed in "The Wind Waker" that she is a descendant of the Zora sage . However, in the Japanese text of "The Wind Waker", "descendant" is not used in the context of a direct derivative.

kull Kid

Skull Kids (nihongo|スタルキッド|Sutarukiddo) are a race that appear in the Lost Woods in ', ', and in the Sacred Grove in '. They are suggested by ["The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time", Navi: "Is this what happens to kids who wander into the forest? It looks like he doesn't like grownups."] ["The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time", Navi: Is this what happens to kids who get lost in the forest? He might be our friend if we do something...] to be what Kokiri become if they get lost in the woods and can't get back out. She also describes them as "unhappy to have no face". ["The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time", Navi: Is this what happens to kids who get lost in this forest? He seems unhappy to have no face...] However, Skull Kids are not the only possible example of creatures being warped by Kokiri Forest; according to a Kokiri that Link meets on one of his side-quests, Hylians become Stalfos when they get lost in the forest, ["The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time", Fado: "Anybody who comes into the forest will be lost. Everybody will become a Stalfos. Everybody, Stalfos."] and in "Four Swords Adventures", the Dekus claim that getting lost will turn someone into one of them. Both the Skull Kid in "Majora's Mask" and the one in "Twilight Princess" are described as "imps". ["The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask", Happy Mask Salesman:"' "During my travels, a very important mask was stolen from me by an imp in the woods."]

The most significant Skull Kid is the from "Majora's Mask", who is possessed by the titular itself and is the friend of two Fairies named . This Skull Kid said that Link smells like the fairy boy who knew Saria's Song in "Ocarina of Time", ["The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask", Skull Kid: "Eh-hee-hee...You have the same smell as the fairy kid who taught me that song in the woods..."] suggesting that he is one of the Skull Kids Link could meet in that game.

In "Twilight Princess", a Skull Kid is the guardian of the Sacred Grove, and Link must play a game of hide-and-seek with it twice in order to advance in the game. The Skull Kid in this game bears a trumpet instead of a flute, and blows it to summon minions called Puppets, of which there seems to be an unlimited amount. The "Twilight Princess" Skull Kid also has a purple, leathery face, with red eyes and a scarecrow-like visage, while the "Ocarina of Time" and "Majora's Mask" Skull Kids have simple wooden faces with glowing yellow features that seem to be merely outlines.

pirits

Spirits are the most powerful and important creatures in the world of "The Legend of Zelda", and are noted for creating the world of Hyrule and all the realms it holds. In general, deities can be divided into Gods and Guardian Spirits.

Gods include the three "Golden Goddesses", Din, Nayru and Farore, who created Hyrule, its physics and its lifeforms. It is unknown where they came from or for how long they have existed. They are usually portrayed as three beautiful women with power nearing omnipotence, but they are sometimes represented differently. They are most often referred to as goddesses, though "gods" is also used, usually as a collective noun. Other gods and goddesses are mentioned within the games: "Ocarina of Time" sparingly refers to a "sand goddess" which the Gerudos revered, "Majora's Mask" describes the Four Giants as gods, as well as mentioning a "Goddess of Time". In "The Wind Waker", the title "Goddess of Fortune" is used to refer to a certain Great Fairy, and there are also two frog-like wind Gods, Cyclos and Zephos. In "Twilight Princess", the antagonist refers to Ganondorf as his god. This seems to imply that the title "god/goddess" is given due to power rather than due to a dogmatic pantheon. The Golden Goddesses seem to mostly withdraw themselves from Hyrule's affairs, only responding to prayers invoked by the Triforce or made by the sages. Some of their responses include flooding Hyrule and restoring the Master Sword.

Guardian Spirits may not be as powerful as the gods, but are still powerful enough to create and protect other creatures. For instance, it was the Great Deku Tree who created the Kokiri."The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time", Kokiri girl: "That's because the Great Deku Tree is our father, the forest guardian, and he gave life to all us Kokiri!"] Unlike the goddesses, the Spirits live with the other races on earth, instead of watching them from a distance. They sometimes act as a leader or second leader for a population of their chosen race and are always treated with great respect. Some Spirits age and can be killed, though they will replace themselves.

ubrosians and Salona

Subrosians are a mysterious race from the subterranean world of Subrosia, featured in "". They have large, glowing eyes, and always wear hooded cloaks. In Subrosia, their currency is "ore chunks" instead of Rupees. They are nearly impervious to heat, and can often be seen relaxing in lava pools. Subrosians also have a dance called the Subrosian Dance. If one does the Subrosian Dance well he can win many prizes such as a Boomerang and the Strange Flute. They find outsiders strange and sometimes do not even understand their logic.The world of Subrosia is connected to the land of Holodrum through a number of vortex-looking portals. The Temple of Seasons, which was thought to vanish when made it sink into the ground, was instead to be found in Subrosia. Link must return to this temple four times in order to complete the quest.In Subrosia there is a Smithy where Subrosians combine Blue Ore and Red Ore to create Hard Ore, a rare raw material used to make special items such as an Iron Shield.

In "Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland", a race appears that is nearly identical in appearance to the Subrosians. They are called the Salona, because they run the Bodyguard Salons. Whether they are the same race or a related race is left unanswered. The story told by various Salona is that their ancestors aided an ancient hero in his quest to defeat a powerful demon. As a result, the demon cursed them, saying that if they acted as the hero's shadow, they would become shadows. Since then, they wear hoods because their bodies can't stand light anymore.

Tokay

The Tokay are a race of lizard-like people who live on Crescent Island, off the coast of Labrynna in "". The name 'Tokay' is derived from a species of gecko.

Tokay steal Link's items when he becomes shipwrecked on their island. In order to retrieve his stolen items, Link must play minigames and trade with the Tokays. Because they have never been off their island, they think that outsiders are Tokay as well and refer to Link as a "Strange Tokay". The Tokay play a game called Wild Tokay, where one person throws chunks of meat to a number of passing Tokay. A prize is given to the player if he manages to throw meat to each of the Tokay.

Twili

Twili (nihongo|トワイライトの民|Towairaito no Tami) are descendants of a tribe of sorcerers called the Dark Interlopers that attempted to seize control of the Sacred Realm after the creation of the Triforce. They were banished by the Golden Goddesses to a limbo known as the Twilight Realm. Over a long period of time, the Twili have evolved from their original forms to a unique, black and white, gentle-looking race. Two major characters of "Twilight Princess", and , are members of this race. During Zant's quest for kingship, many of the Twili were transformed into shadow beasts, leaving Link to revert those still capable of becoming Twili to their normal selves. In this form their skin is mostly black with markings on their bodies reminiscent of patterns seen in the Twilight Realm. Their faces, necks, and chests tend to be gray in a marked contrast to the rest of their bodies. The Twili have a stretched appearance, with long limbs, necks, and heads, and great variances in overall height and girth. It also appears that common Twili are incapable of speaking Hylian and appear to only be able to utter a moan when Link draws near. Both Midna and Zant are unique to their races in that the appearance of their forms (natural or otherwise) are significantly different from other Twili and that they are capable of speaking Hylian.

Unknown tribes

Many games in the series reference ancient tribes, but neglect to give much information about them. As such, it is uncertain whether any of these are the same as other tribes that have been given more in-depth information.
* The Evil tribe of "A Link to the Past" serve Ganon. Agahnim is the only known member, though it is suggested that it includes the sentient enemy races.
* The Ancient tribe of "Majora's Mask" crafted the titular mask and accidentally imbued it with evil power, but realized their mistake and sealed it away long before the events of the game.
* The Dark tribe of "Four Swords Adventures" once invaded Hyrule, but was imprisoned within the Dark Mirror. Shadow Link is the only known member.
* The Monster tribes are recurring enemies. Many like Bulblins and Stalfos display sentience and a few even live in peace with Hyrule.

Yamatami tribe

The Yamatami Tribe is a group of humanoids who live in grottoes high on Mount Desma in "Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland". They have dark skin and almost always wear wooden masks.

Yetis and Yook tribe

The Yeti are based on the cryptid of the same name. They first appear in "" and appear again in "Phantom Hourglass" under a new name, Yooks.

Yetis are covered in white fur except on their faces, hands and feet, which are a bluish gray color on males and brown on females. Male Yeti are about twice the height of an average human and have a large, beaver-like tail. The males are very strong and can easily floor a Hylian. The only known female Yeti, named Yeta, is much closer to the average Hylian in size but this could possibly be because she is rather young, implied by Midna referring to her as a girl as opposed to a woman. She has no tail or visible arms and her body is droopy, similar in appearance to a sweater, however Yeta could merely be wrapped in a blanket, as she is ill when Link first encounters her.

Yeti speak Hylian. They are generally kindhearted and generous. Yeto and Yeta also claim to enjoy snowboarding down Snowpeak Mountain.

In "", the Yooks are yeti-like creatures that inhabit the Isle of Frost along with the Anouki. According to the Anouki, the Yooks are liars and have been their rivals for a long time. However, about 100 years ago, the two tribes signed a peace treaty; although shortly before Link reaches the island, one of the Yooks has kidnapped and impersonated an Anouki. When Link initially enters their Ice Fields, they are hostile and attack him with clubs and icy breath, but after he slays Gleeok, the dungeon's boss, they become friendly and claim that they were under a curse.

Zora tribe

The Zora (nihongo|ゾーラ|Zōra) are a race of piscine humanoids which appear in every game of the series, excluding "The Adventure of Link" and "Four Swords". In earlier games, "Zolas" are fire-spitting aquatic enemies that are described by Nintendo's "Great Hyrule Encyclopedia" as female Zoras who chose lives of violence over loyalty to Hyrule. [http://www.zelda.com/universe/pedia/z.jsp: “Zola is the name given to any female Zora who turns against Hylians and chooses to live a life of violence. They normally hide underwater, then spit fireballs at anyone who walks by.”] In ', Zoras were redesigned into a more peaceful race. ' is the only game to feature both types and introduced new terms to differentiate between them; fire-spitting Zolas were renamed "river Zoras" and humanoid Zoras were renamed "sea Zoras". In "Phantom Hourglass", large, muscle-bound enemies resembling River Zoras and known as "Zora Warriors" are encountered as opponents, and use a sword and shield.

Zoras rely heavily on water and reflect this dependency in their culture. Zoras are mostly seen gracefully swimming about and frolicking in water, and Zora's Domain diving minigame in "Ocarina of Time" suggests that Zoras like diving in particular. Besides routine swimming and sports, Zoras also enjoy music (the stylings of "The Indigo-Gos, for example") [http://www.zelda.com/universe/pedia/z.jsp: “Led by their King, the Zoras are peaceful creatures who enjoy music and sports.”] .

Zoras resemble other marine creatures in their body structure. Most of them wear no clothes, but certain members of their species do wear clothing, or (as shown by the Zora guards in "Twilight Princess") a helmet that completely encases their head. They are generally covered in silver scales, which give them a pale blue sheen from a distance, and they have dark blue spots on their extremities. Where humans sometimes have long hair, average Zoras have rear-hanging caudal extensions of their heads shaped like the tails of dolphins, perhaps as a cephalized form of dorsal fin. These tails undulate periodically, which gives a Zora's head the unique semblance of a fish. In "Twilight Princess", the 'dorsal-like fins' appear to be much smaller. Zoras have two large ulnar fins located distally on their forearms, and some have smaller fins at their ankles. They are sometimes depicted as having webbed feet and hands. They lack ears in the traditional sense, but do have pronounced noses. In previous games in the series, Zoras had no visible gills, yet could breathe underwater, but in "", Zoras had gills on their abdomen, analogous to the placement of lungs on a human. As with Deku Scrubs and Gorons, Zoras who are important to the storyline are physically distinct from the general public.

The gender of common Zoras is not well defined in the video games, as their physical appearance is not wholly conclusive on the matter. and Lulu are notably female, having distinctly rounder, or feminine body features and the fact that Lulu was married and Ruto wanted to be married to Link. The Zora Queen (Queen Rutela) in "Twilight Princess" is also female. Her appearance is different from that of Princess Ruto as she lacks Ruto's wide head and extra eyes. Her head and face are much more humanoid (her overall appearance seems to be based on that of mermaids), and she has what appear to be scale-like growths which give her the impression of having hair. She seems to have a distinct red coloration/aura, although she appears as a ghost and thus her coloration in life is not truly known. In "Twilight Princess", a Zora referred to as "she" helps with the river boat-rental on the Zora River. This female Zora slightly appears to have a pinkish tint to her, perhaps to help clarify her gender. It is also noting that many of the Zoras encountered in "Twilight Princess" can be seen within a body of water, and their bodies emanate colorful glow, possibly a form of bioluminescence, that the Zoras on land do not show (this may also be the case with the female Zora that helps run the Zora River's boat rental). Laruto the former Earth Sage in "The Wind Waker", who is also female isn't as noticeably female as Ruto or Rutela, though her dress indicates she is female. Many of the Zoras in "Twilight Princess" had female voice acting, though it was indistinct. Also in "Twilight Princess" Prince Ralis is male and bears the same similarities to his fellow Zoras aside from being Zora royalty and thus having his own distinct appearance.

Certain other features of the Zoran anatomy are revealed when the player can inhabit the body of the Zora in "". When Link assumes his streamlined Zoran form he can swim with great ease and agility, using his forearm fins to perform barrel rolls or to jump out of the water. Moreover, these fins are specialized for Link's fighting needs. They can grow larger to serve as sharp-edged weapons similar to swords, and even be projected as twin boomerangs; they retract again when not in use. Link's right fin also grows to become his shield when defending, and attacks mainly with punches and kicks. Additionally, Zoras who possess magical power have the ability to create electric fields around their bodies as a defense mechanism when swimming, much like electric eels. This ability has only been seen/used in "Majora's Mask". All Zoras are powerful swimmers (in fact, powerful enough to swim up waterfalls).

It is also revealed in "Majora's Mask" that Zoras lay eggs to reproduce. Zora eggs need to be kept in cold, clean water in order to develop healthily, and every egg from the same clutch must be kept together in order for them to hatch. Newborn Zoras are tadpole-like with a circular body and a long, skinny tail ending in a fluke. There are occasions when Zoras fall in love with Hylians, as Ruto with Link, however it's unknown if Zoras can breed with Hylians.

Zora government is apparently monarchical, as illustrated by , the sole ruler of the Zoras in "Ocarina of Time"; another King Zora in "Oracle of Ages"; and , the deceased ruler of the Zoras in "Twilight Princess". Queen Rutela mentions that her husband, King Zora, died some time ago. River Zoras are also shown having a monarchical system, as King Zora from "A Link to the Past" was a river Zora. The Zora Royal Family is responsible for maintaining order among their people, overseeing care for Jabu-Jabu (in "Ocarina of Time" and "Oracle of Ages"), and assuring that the waters upon which he and all creatures rely are clean and pure.

In "Ocarina of Time" and "Oracle of Ages", Zoras revere (known simply as Jabu-Jabu in "Oracle of Ages"), a giant fish-like creature, as their guardian god ["The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time", King Zora: “Our guardian god, Lord Jabu-Jabu, would never eat my dear Princess Ruto!”] ["The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages", Zora: "Huh? A big fish? Do you mean...Jabu-Jabu? But Jabu-Jabu is the guardian of us Zoras! Calling him a fish is an insult! Watch your language!"] . Some of the Zora guards in "Twilight Princess" also wear helmets that resemble Jabu-Jabu's face. As an expression of devotion to the patron god on behalf of all Zoras, attendants feed him with smaller fish and care for his well-being, which did in "Ocarina of Time".

Zuna

The Zuna are a green-skinned race that live near the Gerudo but deeper into the desert. They appear in "". The Zuna's ancestors were the builders of the Pyramid and may be creators of the Trident of Power found inside the Pyramid. The inscription on the stone tablet behind the Trident shows that it was designed for evil purposes by an evil race. One of the maidens says to Link that a dark tribe tried to invade Hyrule, but were defeated and sealed inside the Dark Mirror, found inside the Temple of Darkness. Some of the Zuna wear white ankle-length cloaks and a white turban with a feather sticking out of the top. Others wear red ankle-length cloaks that cover their mouths and a red turban that has a red headdress hanging down from it. There is also a small white flower atop the red turban.

ee also

* List of characters in "The Legend of Zelda" series

References

External links

*wikia|zelda|Zeldapedia|Races