Zelda and Impa are no longer the only major female protagonists in the Zelda canon--there's now a female Link.

Dubbed Linkle, the character first came about as a concept for Hyrule Warriors, as revealed in the developer's artbook. While she wasn't used at the time, during a Nintendo Direct today Nintendo confirmed that she will in fact be a playable character in the 3DS version of Hyrule Warriors: Hyrule Warriors Legends.

Image credit Siliconera.com

Unlike the traditional Link character, Linkle's primary weapon is a crossbow. And in place of a spinning sword attack, she uses what Nintendo of America's Bill Trinnen described in the Nintendo Direct as a "spinning kick attack."

Linkle will joins a cast of other characters being added to this version of the game from The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker.

While no mention was made of Linkle crossing over to other Zelda titles, like the upcoming Zelda Wii U, franchise director Eiji Aonuma confirmed back at E3 2014 that the Link in that game is male.

Hyrule Warriors Legends will make its way to 3DS on March 25, 2016.

You can read all of the news and announcements from today's Nintendo Direct right here.