The First 7 Years
Malon is the daughter of Talon and works at Lon Lon Ranch with her
father and Ingo. With the exception of Ingo, Link found in them a
warm (though individually different) group. It is suggested by her
father that Malon has quite a temper on her. The first encounter
between Malon and the player is during Link's childhood, when he
accidentally bumps into her in Hyrule Castle Town while she's waiting
for her father to drop off milk at the castle. Link meets her again
that night near the main interior gate of the castle, where she tells
Link that Talon has not come back yet because he probably fell asleep.
Asking Link to seek out Talon, she provides him with an egg that she
has been caring for. Unbeknownst to the player is that the chicken
(hatched from the egg the following morning) is the only thing that
can wake up Talon.

It should be noted that the player has to encounter Malon no matter
what, in order to obtain the Weird Egg from her (thus acquainting
Link to Malon and vice versa) so that Link can get past Talon to the
garden's entrance. This seems to allude to the encyclopedia reference
on [1], which states "... Her life was destined to become intertwined
with Link's heroic adventures."

Later, after meeting Princess Zelda, the player can assume a
mini-sidequest in Lon Lon Ranch, Malon's home. In the ranch, Link can
find Talon in his house (where the player can play a minigame), Ingo
in the barn, and Malon singing the ranch's predominant theme song in
a paddock for horses. After a small conversation, Link discovers that
Malon has given herself a duty: raising Epona, a mare (most resembling
a palomino). Upon introduction, the young dobbin gallops away (Malon
explains that Link frightens her). After a vain struggle to catch up
with the reluctant horse (if so desired), the player can have another
conversation with Malon, where she says she learned the song from her
mother(who is assumed deceased or missing). If Link pulls out his
Ocarina, she will teach him Epona's song. Initially, playing the song
attracts Epona (during Link's childhood and only when in Lon Lon
Ranch) to the player, and when played near a cow, the cow "enjoys"
the music, allowing the cow to produce more milk. This means that
playing Epona's Song near a cow gives Link free Lon Lon Milk
(provided he has an empty bottle), which restores Link's health.
Epona's Song assumes more importance during Link's adulthood.


[edit] The Later 7 Years
During the extensive, quiet slumber of Link's spirit, Ingo,
influenced by Ganondorf, kicked Talon out of Lon Lon Ranch after the
takeover of Hyrule Castle. Renaming the place "Ingo Ranch," the new
owner believes that it was his efforts alone that kept the ranch
alive before Ganondorf's takeover, and that he has a right to the
ranch.

Malon, however, stayed on at the ranch because Ingo threatened to
mistreat the horses if she left. She is forced to do all the physical
labor. The proprietor himself tends to the financial matters, though
he runs a small business of selling rides on his horses.

The player, when in Link's adult form, can now take on the new
mini-sidequest at Lon Lon Ranch. Coming back to the farm, Link will
notice little change of substance at first. However, the essential
shift of authority becomes ever more prominent after a deeper look.
The player can play Epona's Song near there, which is responded by a
full grown Epona. The horse, however, is also one of the ranch's
racehorses; thus, she is inside the locked corral with the others
even though she heard the tune. Epona seems to be the first of
anybody on the ranch to recognize Link.

If the player meets up with Malon in the stable (where she, like
Ingo, cannot remember Link, despite stating that he reminds her of
somebody), Link soon discovers why Malon does not leave. The ranch
seldom receives visitors, so no one knows of her plight. Returning
the ranch to Malon requires foiling Ingo's upcoming plans to curry
Ganondorf's favor with the gift of a horse (Epona). This can be
accomplished by first paying Ingo for two rides in the paddock. Only
during the second run (both times using Epona as the chosen horse)
can the player interest Ingo in a race with a prize of 50 Rupees.
Ingo then bets the horse Link is riding if he races again (not
realizing that Link's mount is Epona). After the player wins the
race, Ingo, in a fit of rage, attempts to keep Epona by locking the
ranch's gate, which she can easily jump.

This grants Link the ability to ride Epona around Hyrule Field for
faster travel. Epona's Song calls her to his side anytime on Hyrule
Field.

If the player returns to the ranch, he finds Ingo in a great mood.
Malon recognizes Link when he calls Epona to him with the Ocarina.
Ingo has had a change of heart because he has been released from the
evil that Ganondorf placed in his heart.