Once you've tamed your first pet, it's now time to understand what purpose stables and Stable Masters serve.
Stables are, basically, pet storage. Each stable has three slots - one, labelled 'Current Pet' indicates what pet that is currently active, with you, the pet that appears when you use the 'Call Pet' ability. The other two slots, labelled 'Stabled Pets' are other pets that you currently have that are basically inactive. You can switch between pets by right clicking with your mouse on a 'Stabled Pet' portrait and dragging it over to the 'Current Pet' box. Your current pet will then trade places with the previously stabled pet, and the new pet will become your current. Clicking on any pet portrait within the stable will bring up that pet's basic statistics: Diet, Happiness, Level and Loyalty (and the pictures change, correspondingly).
NPCs that are labelled 'Stable Masters' indicate where you can perform these switches or store pets if you have open slots to do so. The 'Current Pet' stable slot is given to every hunter for free; the second slot costs 5 silver to purchase and the third slot costs 5 gold. Slots that you have purchased will read 'Empty Stable Slot' when moused over, and unpurchased slots appear red. You will be asked to confirm the stable slot purchase.
One of the most common questions (or complaints) is the fact that Hunters are restricted to only ever having three pets, total (this doesn't take into account any pet that is tamed and abandoned). It has, in fact, been something of a thorn to Hunters since World of Warcraft's release in 2004. Perhaps it's something of a "Gotta Catch 'Em All" syndrome or the fact that there are so many different types of pets available, that it seems a shame to limit Hunters to only three. In 2006, Hunters received two replies about this issue from Blizzard Community Managers. When asked if there were plans to increase the number of stable slots:
"We don't have any intentions at this time to increase the total number of stable slots."
And, when asked why this was the case, as it's been something that Hunters have requested practically from Day 1:
"Because increasing storage space for characters carries a heavy technological weight to it and is something we try to avoid when possible by using more creative solutions. Increasing character data directly impacts game performance, so it is something done with careful consideration and should not be regarded as 'the simple, easy solution'."
Whether this remains the status quo or not, we can only really wait and see.
Stables are most commonly found next to Inns or places you can rest your character. Some Stable Masters are faction specific (meaning only Horde or only Alliance can stable their pets at said Stable Master), some are reputation specific (like Aldor/Scyer) and some are neutral (either faction can stable their pet at said Stable Master).
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Is there a device or ability that lets me summon a pet from the stable?
Answer: No. There is currently no way to switch your pet 'on the fly'. To switch pets, you
have to return to a stable and switch them manually (from stabled to current).
Question: So what's the purpose of having stable slots?
Answer: Two reasons. One is discussed at length in Beast Training, a How-To Guide -
it provides a way to learn new abilities to teach to your old pets. The second is to provide
hunters with a way to have pets specialized in one area or another, which is discussed
in the Beasts overview. Most hunters, following a general rule of thumb, have one pet
normally more specialized to soloing (what some might term a 'tanking' pet) and another
pet (or two) for raiding/instances/player versus player combat (a 'DPS' pet). While we
don't have an infinite number of stable slots, Hunters can make the most of the stable slots
available by using training points wisely on the pets they do have. While these pets do
have to be manually switched, most players know in advance what sort of activities they will
be participating in on any given day and can switch pets accordingly beforehand.
Question: I'm in (insert zone here) next to the inn and don't see a Stable Master. Help!
Answer: Some zones are lacking Stable Masters, don't ask me why. The biggest 'culprit' that
I can think of off the top of my head is Light's Hope Chapel (in Eastern Plaguelands).
Question: Why do the Horde have more Stable Masters than the Alliance?!
Answer: QQ. The Horde have four different races that can play Hunters (Blood Elves, Orcs, Tauren
and Trolls) as compared to the Alliance who only have three (Dwarf, Draenei and Night Elves).
Alliance has 28 faction specific stable masters, the Horde have 31. Is that really a big enough
deal to complain about?
Stable Locations
Alliance:
Esbina (Azure Watch: Azuremyst Isle)
Shelby Stoneflint (Kharanos: Dun Morogh)
Erma (Goldshire: Elwynn Forest)
Seriadne (Dolanaar: Teldrassil)
Alassin (Cenarion Enclave: Darnassus)
Ulbrek Firehand (The Military Ward: Ironforge)
Jenova Stoneshield (Dwarven District: Stormwind City)
Sylista (The Park: Stormwind City)
Arthaid (Seat of the Naaru: The Exodar)
Astur (Blood Watch: Bloodmyst Isle)
Jaelysia (Auberdine: Darkshore)
Lina Hearthstove (Thelsamar: Loch Modan)
Kirk Maxwell (Sentinel Hill: Westfall)
Maluressian (Astranaar: Ashenvale)
Penny (Lakeshire: Redridge Mountains)
Bethaine Flinthammer (Menethil Harbor: Wetlands)
Wesley (Southshore: Hillsbrad Foothills)
Steven Black (Darkshire: Duskwood)
Shelgrayn (Nijel's Point: Desolace)
Michael (Theramore Isle: Dustwallow Marsh)
Antarius (Feathermoon Stronghold: Feralas)
Killium Bouldertoe (Aerie Peak: The Hinterlands)
Master Sergeant Lorin Thalmerok (Honor Hold: Hellfire Peninsula)
Joraal (Telredor: Zangarmarsh)
Luftasia (Telaar: Nagrand)
Fiskal Shadowsong (Sylvanaar: Blade's Edge Mountains)
Crinn Pathfinder (Wildhammer Stronghold: Shadowmoon Valley)
Stormpike Stable Master (Dun Baldar: Alterac Valley)
Horde:
Shoja'my (Razor Hill: Durotar)
Anathos (Ruins of Silvermoon: Eversong Woods)
Seikwa (Bloodhoof Village: Mulgore)
Morganus (Brill: Tirisfal Glades)
Xon'cha (The Valley of Honor: Orgrimmar)
Shalenn (Farstriders Square: Silvermoon City)
Bulrug (Thunder Bluff)
Anya Maulray (Undercity)
Kelsuwa (Camp Taurajo: The Barrens)
Sikwa (Crossroads: The Barrens)
Paniar (Tranquillien: Ghostlands)
Sarah Goode (The Sepulcher: Silverpine Forest)
Qeeju (Splintertree Post: Ashenvale)
Gereck (Sunrock Retreat: Stonetalon Mountains)
Theodore Mont Claire (Tarren Mill: Hillsbrad Foothills)
Awenasa (Freewind Post: Thousand Needles)
Tharlidun (Hammerfall: Arathi Highlands)
Aboda (Shadowprey Village: Desolace)
Hekkru (Stonard: Swamp of Sorrows)
Greth (Kargath: Badlands)
Durik (Grom'gol Base Camp: Stranglethorn Vale)
Shyrka Wolfrunner (Camp Mojache: Feralas)
Huntsman Markhor (Revantusk Village: The Hinterlands)
Huntsman Torf Angerhoof (Thrallmar: Hellfire Peninsula)
Khalan (Zabra'jin: Zangarmarsh)
Trag (Stonebreaker Hold: Terokkar Forest)
Wilda Bearmane (Garadar: Nagrand)
Lor (Thunderlord Stronghold: Blade's Edge Mountains)
Ogrin (Mok'Nathal Village: Blade's Edge Mountains)
Gedrah (Shadowmoon Village: Shadowmoon Valley)
Frostwolf Stable Master (Frostwolf Keep: Alterac Valley)
Neutral:
Reggifuz (Ratchet: The Barrens)
Grimestack (Booty Bay: Stranglethorn Vale)
Laziphus (Gadgetzan: Tanaris)
Squire Leoren Mal'derath (Cenarion Hold: Silithus)
Azzleby (Everlook: Winterspring)
Kameel Longstride (Cenarion Refuge: Zangarmarsh)
Skyguard Stable Master (Vortex Pinnacle: Blade's Edge Mountains)
Liza Cutlerflix (Area 52: Netherstorm)
Seraphina Bloodheart (Sun's Reach: Isle of Quel'Danas)
Reputation:
Oruhe (Aldor Rise: Shattrath City)
Ilthuril (Scryer's Tier: Shattrath City)