King of Red Lions

The King of Red Lions is a talking red sailboat and a character who makes his first and main appearance in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Here, the King of Red Lions is one of Link's main allies, and he enables Link to travel around the Great Sea.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
In The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, some time after Link is thrown into the sea by the Helmaroc King at the Forsaken Fortress, he is found and rescued by the King of Red Lions, who brings him to Windfall Island. Before Link can travel across the Great Sea, he must first buy the Sail at the Windfall Island Shop to apply to the King of Red Lions. Later, when Link reaches Dragon Roost Island, the King of Red Lions gives Link the Wind Waker. The King of Red Lions provides various advice and knowledge to Link throughout his journey, including on where to go next. Once Link has acquired the Grappling Hook, he can attach it to the King of Red Lions as a salvage arm and use it to recover Treasure Chests that are on the ocean floor.

After Link's second visit to the Forsaken Fortress, the King of Red Lions takes Link and Tetra to Hyrule, where the true identity of Tetra is revealed to be Princess Zelda. Once Link arrives at Hyrule Castle, he cannot talk to the King of Red Lions, who neither responds nor moves. Inside of Hyrule Castle, Link learns that the King of Red Lions is actually the King of Hyrule, Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule, and not a separate character. In a different part of Link's journey, the Great Deku Tree tells Link that the King of Red Lions was tasked by the Goddesses to search for the hero who is destined to defeat Ganondorf.

In the ending, Link is seen sailing away on a lifeless King of Red Lions, following the alleged death of Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule during the final battle against Ganondorf.

In The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, the Swift Sail was introduced, and it enables Link to travel around on the King of Red Lions quicker.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl's Pirate Ship stage, the King of Red Lions occasionally appears sailing behind the ship. Fighters can land on him if they get knocked off to the right of the ship during battle. When he arrives before the Cyclone arrives, he will be picked up along with the pirate ship.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the King of Red Lions is featured as a trophy. The Pirate Ship stage also returns, and the King of Red Lions retains his role from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the Pirate Ship stage appears once more, and the King of Red Lions still serves an identical role.

Hyrule Warriors Legends
In Hyrule Warriors Legends's Master Wind Waker Pack DLC, later added into Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, some of Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule's combos involves him transforming into the King of Red Lions. In both combos, the King of Red Lions briefly creates water to ride on, and uses the waves to crash into surrounding enemies. Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule also transforms into the King of Red Lions during his victory animation. Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule's Level 3 Sail, the Sail of Red Lions, features a mast based on the King of Red Lions.