Zelda franchise strategy guide/Characters/Impa

Impa (インパ, Inpa) is a character who acts as a caretaker to Princess Zelda. There are multiple versions of the character named Impa throughout the Zelda series, just as there are multiple Link and Zelda characters. As with Link and Zelda, all versions of the character share personality traits.

The Legend of Zelda

Impa, the aged nursemaid of Zelda, is saved by Link from an attack by a group of Octoroks. She tells Link of Zelda's plight of being captured by Ganon. Although Impa does not appear in the game, the manual recounts this story.

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Once Link gains the Triforce symbol on the back of his hand on his sixteenth birthday, she notices it, and asks of him to break the curse on Princess Zelda. She does not appear ingame. This is the same Impa from the first game.

Ocarina of Time

Impa is one of the last survivors of the race of Sheikah, the ancient protectors of the Hylian Royal Family. She has silvery-gray hair and red eyes. She was born and raised in Kakariko Village, and though she still keeps a house there, she now lives at Hyrule Castle serving as nursemaid and bodyguard to Princess Zelda. Link first meets Impa as a child after sneaking into Hyrule Castle Courtyard to meet Zelda. After teaching Link "Zelda's Lullaby", Impa escorts him out of the castle. When Ganondorf attacks Hyrule Castle, Impa takes Zelda and flees on horseback. The two spend the next seven years in hiding from Ganondorf. When the Shadow Spirit, Bongo Bongo, breaks its seal and emerges to wreak havoc upon Kakariko Village, Impa heads to the Shadow Temple to reseal it. When Link completes the Shadow Temple, Impa is awakened as the Shadow Sage. Link receives the Shadow Medallion from her.

It is interesting to note that in this game, Impa is noticeably younger and stronger than presented before. She is a woman clad in armor on her torso, boots, gauntlets, and pants and carrying a Kodachi short sword on her back. Impa appears to be in her late 30s, early 40s in stark contrast to the old woman probably in her 60s or 70s when she first appeared in Zelda II. This is the first Impa to appear in an actual game; previous iterations were mentioned in manuals, but never appeared as characters.

Oracle of Ages/Oracle of Seasons

This incarnation of Impa is also the nursemaid of Princess Zelda, and is also noticeably fatter. She is sent to bring Nayru and Din, the Oracles of Ages and Seasons respectively, to Hyrule for the safety of the lands of Labrynna and Holodrum, but she fails in her quest. It is up to Link to save them.

In Ages, similar to The Legend of Zelda, she is under attack by Octoroks. Link saves her, and she accompanies Link to get to Nayru. Once Link reaches her and listens to her music, he becomes aware that Impa is possessed by Veran. After Veran takes possession of Nayru, Impa awakens and gives Link a wooden sword (or a wooden shield, if it's a linked game).

In Seasons, after Din is captured by Onox, Impa is by Link's side, and explains the situation. Once she finishes, she sends him to the Maku Tree.

Twilight Princess

In Twilight Princess, a woman named Impaz lives in the Hidden Village, which is implied to be the residence of the remnants of the Shiekah tribe. Impaz also says that she is named for her ancestor who founded the village (most likely Impa from Ocarina of Time).

Once again, Impaz is depicted as a small, elderly woman with grey-white hair and red eyes, and seems to be the last survivor of the Sheikah clan. In this incarnation she also has a rather large collection of pet cats.

CD-I

Impa only appears in Zelda: Wand of Gamelon. She bears the triforce of wisdom as Zelda goes on her adventure. Although she slightly helps Zelda, she does not appear in the ending of the game.