Hunting down all 10 Big Poes across Hyrule Field is one of the most lucrative side quests in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, netting you 50 rupees and 100 points per soul at the Ghost Shop. If you're trying to max out your wallet or secure every heart piece, you need an efficient route, precise trigger locations, and a reliable strategy for handling Epona without letting these elusive ghosts fade away.
Most guides tell you where the ten ghosts are, but they leave out how strict the trigger zones really are. If you approach from the wrong angle or ride too fast, the phantom despawns instantly, wasting precious time. Here's your roadmap to mastering the hunt, optimizing your route, and cashing in without the frustration.
Understanding Big Poe Mechanics and Prerequisites
Before you can even start hunting, you need to clear a few specific milestones in the game. You must pull the Master Sword from the pedestal, become an adult, complete the Forest Temple, and acquire both the Fairy Bow and your horse, Epona.
Once you return to the ruins of Castle Town as an adult, the old guardhouse transforms into the Poe Shop. The proprietor buys each Big Poe for 50 rupees and 100 points. Collect all 10, and you'll earn a bottle—if you don't already have four—along with a massive payout.
Big Poes only appear when you ride Epona through invisible trigger points scattered across Hyrule Field. They float away from you when hit, requiring two arrows to defeat. If a Big Poe floats into a wall or gets too far away, it vanishes. You can easily reset a vanished Poe by riding about 20 seconds away and returning, or by leaving Hyrule Field entirely and coming back.
Complete Map and Exact Locations of All 10 Big Poes
Finding these ghosts requires pinpoint accuracy. Each location relies on specific landmarks across the field.
- Poe 1: Castle Town Bridge Sign. Start from the drawbridge entrance to ruined Castle Town. Follow the path straight south toward Lon Lon Ranch, and the first Poe triggers right by the signpost.
- Poe 2: Kakariko Village Path. Head toward the stone staircase leading up to Kakariko Village. Move just past the tree near the water, turn around, and walk back toward the stairs to trigger this ghost.
- Poe 3: The Curved Brick Wall. Located southeast of the first Poe, near the long stone wall along the cliff. Hug the inner corner of this wall to force the ghost to materialize.
- Poe 4: The Fork Near Gerudo Valley. Found where the dirt path branches off toward Gerudo Valley from Hyrule Castle. Approach from the northeast path and cut the corner between the road and the nearby rock.
- Poe 5: The Isolated Tree. North of the Gerudo Valley entrance, near a single tree standing by itself. Face toward Hyrule Castle and ride along the right side of the tree trunk.
- Poe 6: Southeast Bushes. Located in the far southeast corner of the field. Weave through the trees and ride straight through the specific bush next to a lone rock.
- Poe 7: The Lone Tree South of the Boulder. A short distance from Poe #6, find the standalone brown boulder. The trigger point is the tree directly south of it. Face north toward Lon Lon Ranch and ride past its right side.
- Poe 8: Silver Boulder Y-Junction. Found along the path connecting Kokiri Forest and Lon Lon Ranch, right beside a silver boulder. Stand inside the "Y" shape of the road next to the rock.
- Poe 9: Eastern Wall V-Junction. Head to the eastern wall near Lon Lon Ranch where the stone barrier forms a sharp angle. Stand in the corner or ride along the base to trigger it.
- Poe 10: River Overhang Near Kakariko. Located near the stream overhang close to Kakariko Village. You can stand on top of the ledge or ride along the pillar next to the stream to spawn the final ghost.
For official background on Nintendo's classic design choices, check out the Nintendo Official Site. For broader historical context on the game's release, the Library of Congress maintains comprehensive media archives.
The Optimal Farming Route
Riding randomly across Hyrule Field burns through your arrow supply and wastes valuable minutes. To make your run efficient, follow a strict loop that keeps you moving clockwise or counterclockwise without backtracking.
Start by exiting Castle Town and nabbing Poe 1 on the main path. From there, angle southeast toward Poe 3 along the stone wall, then swing down toward Poe 4 near the fork. Continue south to grab Poe 6 and Poe 7 in the southeast grove. Loop upward past Poe 8 near the Kokiri Forest path, grab Poe 9 along the eastern wall, ride north to Poe 10 by Kakariko, and finish your loop with Poe 2, Poe 5, and a quick trip back to the Poe Shop to empty your bottles.
Because you can only hold one Big Poe per bottle at a time, you'll need to make multiple trips back to the shop if you want to farm them repeatedly for cash. Keeping your quiver upgraded via Nintendo's support channels or standard in-game target ranges ensures you never run out of ammunition mid-hunt.
Common Mistakes and Pro Tips
- Don't gallop at full speed. Epona moves fast, making it easy to overshoot your trigger zone or run past the Poe before you can draw your bow. Use a gentle trot when approaching trigger points.
- Watch your angles. If you trigger a Poe while facing a wall, it will instantly despawn as it tries to float through solid geometry. Always position yourself so the ghost floats out into open grass.
- Keep your bow drawn. Press and hold L to lock your camera onto Epona's direction, keeping your bow equipped so you can fire two quick arrows the moment the phantom appears.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Big Poes respawn after you sell them?
No. Once you catch all 10 unique Big Poes and sell them to the Poe Shop proprietor, they don't respawn on that save file. The side quest is a one-time completion event.
Why won't the Big Poe spawn when I ride past the location?
You're likely moving too fast, approaching from the wrong vector, or you haven't fulfilled prerequisites like acquiring Epona and the Fairy Bow. Slow down to a trot and ensure you're hugging the exact landmark described.
What is the exact cash reward for finishing the quest?
Each Big Poe sells for 50 rupees and 100 points. Cashing in all 10 nets you a total of 500 rupees, plus a bonus empty bottle if you haven't collected four already.
Can I catch regular Poes instead for the same reward?
No. Regular Poes found inside dungeons or graveyards don't count toward the Ghost Shop's Big Poe bounty and won't earn you the special cash payout or bottle.
