Rito
From Lozwiki
The Rito (or "Bird People") are a race of bird-like humanoids in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Their main habitat is on Dragon Roost Island, in which all known Rito reside. They have a tribal elder, with numerous followers and elaborately dressed guards. No Rito is born with wings, and must visit the tribes' guardian, the great dragon Valoo, to receive one of his scales which enables them to grow wings. It is a coming of age ceremony of the Rito, to journey to the great Valoo to receive their scale. Children with no wings are called chicks.
Rito are viewed upon by outsiders somewhat dubiously. Some have an inexplicable bigotry directed towards them. Still, Rito are widely accepted as mail carriers, as only they can traverse the seas without cumbersome ships. Rito are capable of flying quickly, and full-grown members can carry humans for a short time.
The Rito may be inspired by the Watarara race in one of the Zelda mangas (generally considered not to be canon). These people were more like giant birds than humans, but had a similar gaining of wings past a certain age and the same chieftain leadership structure.
Some also associate the Rito to the Gerudo, due to the Gerudo's pointed noses (Although this is a very weak basis for a relationship), while others say that they are related to the Gorons, as bomb flowers are native to Dragon Roost Island and the island is similar to the mountain on which the Goron race resides in previous games.
Rito resemble condors, and seem to have some relation with the Andean culture, they have dark skin and the main theme of the Rito Island contains some andean instruments such as zampoña (aka pan pipes) and charango.
It is implied in the game that they are the descendants of the Zora race, as one Rito, Medli, tells Link that the Rito were once without wings, and it is also revealed in the game that she is a descendant of the Zora sage Laruto. Though, in the Japanese text of The Wind Waker, "descendant" is not used in the context of a direct relative, but rather Makar and Medli are descendants of the Sage Bloodline. It should be also be noted that the sages seem to be able to pass down their power and responsibility as seen in the maidens of A Link to the Past. This is also considerable when taking into account that it has been implied by a gossip stone that Kaepora Gaebora, from Ocarina of Time, was the reincarnation of a sage (also lending interpretations to why there are so numerous Links: they are reincarnations). Additionally, the Rito postman's figurine says he is descendant of a famous post man (think Termina). Later installments, which introduced the Wind Tribe, offer alternatives to the Zora Evolution theory. Remember, the Rito did not evolve, they grew wings when Valoo gave them scales, despite what Medli says regarding the grappling hook. Due to the dwelling place of a volcano, the dragon that lives with them, and the red pearl that they guard, it is also likely that they are descendants of the Gorons. Although Gorons appear as salesmen in certain parts of the overworld, they wear masks but using the deku leaf to blow of the masks, you can tell that they are Gorons. Because of this, it is impossible to say definitively precisely the history of their race.
Medli has the Zora symbol on her dress, further evidence for the Zora becoming Rito. This duality could also be interpreted as the two races (Goron and Zora(n)) combining to form a new one.
It may also be considered that The name of the race "Rito" and that of the Earth sage "Laruto" could easily be derived from "Ruto", the name of a Zora princess of an ealier Zelda game.
