Bow

The bow is one of a handful of items that have been around since the original The Legend of Zelda. Using arrows as ammunition, the bow can be used to attack enemies, hit switches, and on occasion, cause special events to take place. In many of the games, you start with the ability to carry a limited number of arrows. You can expand that limit as the game progresses. Many games also feature magic-infused types of arrows. For example the Light Arrow, Ice Arrow and the Fire Arrow are the common types.

The Legend of Zelda
In The Legend of Zelda, the bow is found in the Eagle Labyrinth, the very first dungeon. Unfortunately, you cannot use it until you purchase arrows from a store for 80 Rupees. Rather than giving you a limited number of arrows, the game instead takes away one rupee every time you shoot an arrow.

A Link to the Past
In A Link to the Past, the bow returns after its absence from The Adventure of Link. You will find it in the big chest of the Eastern Palace, and you will find it very useful for defeating the boss of the dungeon, the Armos Knights.

Link's Awakening
The bow will become available to purchase in the Mabe Village shop after the Shovel is purchased. The bow however is extremely expensive as it costs 980 Rupees, thus making this one of the most expensive items for purchase in the whole Zelda series. The bow isn't actually needed until the fifth dungeon, Catfish's Maw, or until later dungeons. Like a few common items, arrows can sometimes be found in the form of an arrow with wings in certain dungeons. By using the Roc's Feather, Link can easily acquire a few arrows by jumping into this flying object.

There is a glitch in the game which allows Link to fire bomb arrows, by equipping both the bow and a bomb and pressing their two buttons at the same time, causing a bomb to fly out. However doing so does nothing to Link's surroundings, as the bomb and arrow will simply pass by anything, including walls, and cannot harm any enemies.

Ocarina of Time
Found in the Forest Temple, the Fairy Bow is needed to defeat the four Poe sisters as well as later bosses and enemies. Ocarina of Time uses the fairy bow much more often than any of the games before it but waits until later in the game to give it to you. You will not receive it until you have become an adult, and only adult Link can wield it. This bow also displays the feature of being used on horseback. This is the only way to capture Big Poes and collect a new quiver at the Gerudo Archery Range.

This same bow appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Some believe that the Fairy Bow is the replacement for the Fairy Slingshot that only young Link can wield.

Majora's Mask
In Majora's Mask, the Hero's Bow is found in the Woodfall Temple and is again used for defeating enemies and solving puzzles. Its functions are very similar to the Fairy Bow from Ocarina of Time. It can also be used on horseback and is vital to saving Romani Ranch from Them. All of the items found in dungeons (with the exception of masks) are either the bow itself or an upgrade for the bow, such as Fire Arrows.

Four Swords
The bow again appears as one of the small selection of usable items in Four Swords. Unlike previous versions, the bow can now be charged up for a more powerful shot.

The Wind Waker
The Hero's Bow returns in The Wind Waker and can be found in the Tower of the Gods. You receive it around the middle of the game, and you will use it often for the rest of the game. During your fight with Ganondorf, Princess Zelda will borrow your bow and help you fight him with Light Arrows.

In The Wind Waker, the Hero's Bow has four different modes; regular arrows, Fire Arrows, Ice Arrows, and Light Arrows which have the ability to destroy regular enemies.

Four Swords Adventures
Like Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures allows you to charge up an arrow and release for a more powerful blow. If Link gives the bow to a Great Fairy to upgrade to Level 2, it will allow him to rapidly fire three arrows in a row.

The Minish Cap
The bow makes another appearance in the third "Four Swords" title: The Minish Cap. It can be found in the Castor Wilds. The Bow's ammunition is later replaced by Light Arrows, which (since Link has no Magic Meter) do not consume magic energy; they therefore have no drawback, and are completly superior to regular Arrows.

Twilight Princess
Again, the Hero's Bow makes an appearance in Twilight Princess. This time, it can be found inside the Goron Mines after defeating the Mini-Boss, Dangoro. Attachments can be placed on the Hero's Bow to allow for a new way to use it. You can attach Bombs to make Bomb Arrows, including Water Bombs, Bomblings, and normal bombs. You can also attach the Hawkeye so you can zoom in and out and snipe out your enemies from afar.

This Hero's Bow appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Phantom Hourglass
The bow in Phantom Hourglass can be found in the Temple of Courage. In this game, in order to use it the player must either draw a line or tap where they want to shoot. Drawing a line extends the vision range.

Trivia

 * Given the name "Hero's Bow", it may well be the same bow throughout many of the games, or at least inspired by the original bow.