@Power Play  

 
It is also explained in this.  
This is the backstory of Howling “Griffin” Night. As told to me by my friend via Google Docs.
 
Born to a Pegasi mother by the name Lithic Site and Batpony father by the name Drake Night, Howling Night came out looking like both races with dark blue mane and tail to go with his dark burgundy body. His family was better off than most being a more higher up family in their city of Hollow Shades. He enjoyed very few days with his parents, however, when one of the hired maids, Delilah Dusk stole him away in the night to get revenge on his parents. The parents hired all they could to find him but the maid had been hired by another upper-class family and was able to stay hidden from them. She was to kill Howling but unable to have foals of her own decision to raise him as her own and giving him a new name: Griffin Night, for fear of his name being too recognizable. She died shortly after his 5th birthday due to a small mishap with a snake, leading to Griffin deeply despising and almost fearing snakes himself. On his own, he resorted to stealing to make his way. In the process of robbing an old swords pony by the name of Cain Mail, he got caught and the old pony, realizing his predicament, decided to take the now 7-year-old pony in. As the years passed, the old pony taught him several lessons, especially to be kind to all things and how to defend himself if he ever got into fights, which happened often due to his sarcastic, horny nature. On the day the circus came into their small village far away from the one he was born into, the old pony took Griffin to go see it. Upon seeing the animals perform their acts, he realized that their voices sounded so familiar but shook it off until they brought out a manticore which roared furiously. Eyes wide, he could almost understand the creature and after the show, he snuck away to where it was being held to try and talk with it. Seeing it crammed into its small cage, he asked it if it wanted to be let out. The creature screamed a loud yes which Griffin heard loud and clear, setting him free and gaining his cutie mark, a howling wolfs head.
 
Unfortunately, the circus owner caught him and threw him in the cage, insisting that he be their new help since Griffin freed his main attraction. Griffon never saw the old pony again, the only thing he had to remember him by was the green hat that he gave Griffin for his 10th birthday. The young pony was partnered up with an older stallion whom Griffin instantly fell in love with and a year later as the circus traveled up towards the greener lands of Equestria, they ran away and became wanderers. The older stallion, Red Rain, soon ran off with an older mare leaving Griffin to his own means once again. After traveling around Equestria for a few years, Griffin settled down in a small tent outside the Everfree forest after visiting Ponyville. There, he spent most of his time with Zecora and Fluttershy trying to help out in various parts of the town, mostly with animals, given how he could easily commune with them. After he helped Zecora out with a favor, she helped him permanently change his mane and tail to a blonde color in honor of the old pony that helped him in his early years.

Please do. However, where’s he get Link’s hat from?

This is one of my friends oc’s. Part of his backstory explains the two names. Can share it if people are interested.