Waterfall Rapids

The Ordon Goat is a species of goat specific to Ordona Province in Twilight Princess, the only Zelda title in which they have appeared in so far.

Characteristics

They are roughly around the size of Epona, Link's horse in Twilight Princess, although shorter. The goats have a blue coat and yellow faces. They also have what appears to be rabbit-like ears sticking from their heads, but are actually just part of their hair. The most striking feature of the goat is its enormous horns, which come together to form a complete circle above their heads. These horns are beige and have brown stripes.

It is possible that they may have replaced cows, as cows or other dairy-producing animals are nowhere to be found in Hyrule during Twilight Princess, although dairy products are widely available.

Lifestyle and Breeding

A beta screenshot of Link on Epona inside Ordon Ranch, looking at an Ordon Goat

Ordon Goats are raised as the main livestock of Ordon Village, the other being Cuccos although they just seem to be pets. The goats are held and raised in Ordon Ranch, south of the village and owned by Fado. Fado's job is to ensure the goats' well being and herd them, and he employs Link as a ranch-hand to round them up into the barn with Epona. Fado often slips up and and is known to accidentally let a goat escape the ranch, forcing a villager outside to grab onto their horns and stop the goat in its tracks.

The goats are raised to produce milk, much like a real goat would. The milk can also be turned into circular, yellow cheese in the shape of a donut, recalling the characteristic shape of an Ordon Goat's horns. Besides having the goats produce food for the village, it would also seem that Ordon Village ships many of its livestock goods to other parts of Hyrule — milk is sold in a select few shops in other places of Hyrule, and Link can obtain some Ordon Goat Cheese in Snowpeak Ruins. Drinking goat milk restores one's health, and the cheese can be used to make cheesy soups that heal even more.

The Ordon Goats are regarded to be very important to the lifestyle and economy of Ordon Village. The village shows a few goat themes as decoration, such as the sign posts and Ordon Shield having Ordon Goat horns.

Goat-Herding Minigame

Herding the goats is offered as a mini-game which involves Link, riding Epona, to herd the goats into the barn as a timer counts. Link is supposed to ride Epona and chase after the goats, and force them to run back into the barn, which they will automatically do when nearing the barn's entry. Hollering at the goats will make them run faster, but if they are pushed too far, they will glow red and headbutt Epona, causing Link to fall off. Two rounds of this mini-game must be played in order for Link to progress further in Twilight Princess and to complete the game: The first time there is no timer, and only 10 goats are in the ranch; the second time there is a timer (although Link can still take his time), and 20 goats are present. After Link retrieves Epona, the minigame can be played again, and Link has to herd 20 goats in three minutes; if he succeeds, Fado awards him with a Heart Piece.

Trivia

• It it possible that the goats were once part of the Ordona Province's wildlife, as Ordona, the Spirit of Light of Ordon, strongly resembles an Ordon Goat, which most likely would have existed long before Ordon Village was built. The Ordon Goats were probably named after the village, which in turn was named after Ordona.
• When Link has approached an Ordon Goat, he can gently pet it. Petting a goat merely makes the goat raise its head, which is usually pointed towards the ground, and briefly bleat. Petting is just a gimmick added within the game. Later on in the game, standing in front of an Ordon Goat will give one the option to grab it's horns and flip it over, which will make it angrily charge at Link.
• As the Cucco's Revenge Squad has been removed from Twilight Princess, Ordon Goats will attack Link if he attacks them. However, unlike Cuccos, goats cannot damage Link.