It seems fairly obvious, given their penchant for wearing green, but Link's design was heavily inspired by Disney's version of Peter Pan. When Miyamoto set about creating Link, he came up with the idea for the character to have long ears and a hat; apparently, at the time, combining those two features is an immediate Peter Pan reference. It makes sense, given that Miyamoto has always been very open about his love for Disney. Is it possible that the Ocarina Of Time features a very subtle hint towards this origin too? At the start of the game, Link is a member of the Kokiri Tribe, having been raised among them from a very young age; the Kokiri wear green clothes and never age, remaining as children. Sound familiar? It could all be a coincidence (after all, Disney hardly invented the idea of a group of children who don't age) but it could very well be a subtle hint to a major influence for the series. Of course, this is all based on visuals and design alone; Link and Peter Pan are two very, very different characters. Still, it's interesting to see that game designers aren't afraid of taking influence from recognised characters when seeking to create something new.
I have an addiction to achievements, a craving for new bands and a dream to become Captain America. I once finished second in a Mario Kart 7 tournament so I'm kind of a big deal.
