okay zelda IS an rpg, not just a generic one like all the ff, chrono, tales and what have you. you play as a single character live out his role and try to kill evil stuffies. thats an rpg.
it doesn't have the random encounter system, but insted it uses active battle.
You don't get experience but you get magic items.
I love zelda 3, a link to the past.
zelda one and two are frickin difficult, i've never ever gotten past the second bosses
ocarina of time is great really great, with the biggoron sword and the horsie and magic and stuff. Majoras mask is worse, but still pretty good. I haven't played windwaker so I can't tell.