# How Ponytail Rules Are Adapted for Cursor, Windsurf, and Other AI Agents > Learn how Ponytail adapts its rules for AI agents like Cursor and Windsurf by using agent-specific rule files. Easily activate guidelines for your preferred AI. - Repository: [DietrichGebert/ponytail](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-09-03 --- **Ponytail adapts its core rule set for specific AI agents by shipping pre-configured rule files in agent-specific directories—simply copy `.cursor/rules/ponytail.mdc` for Cursor or [`.windsurf/rules/ponytail.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/.windsurf/rules/ponytail.md) for Windsurf to activate the guidelines.** The **Ponytail** project (DietrichGebert/ponytail) maintains a standardized set of coding guidelines that must be adapted to the unique configuration formats of different AI coding agents. Rather than requiring users to manually translate rules, the repository provides **agent-specific rule files** that map the core Ponytail policy to each tool's expected location and syntax. ## Core Rule Architecture The source of truth for all agent adaptations resides in [`.agents/rules/ponytail.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/.agents/rules/ponytail.md) at the repository root. This file contains the canonical rule set written in Markdown-compatible syntax. According to the DietrichGebert/ponytail source code, agent-specific directories contain copies or reformatted versions of this core file. This architecture ensures consistency across platforms while respecting each agent's unique file path and extension requirements. ## Agent-Specific Rule Locations Different agents expect rule files in specific locations with specific extensions. Ponytail accommodates these requirements through dedicated directories. ### Cursor Integration Cursor loads **always-on project rules** from the `.cursor/rules/` directory. Ponytail provides `.cursor/rules/ponytail.mdc`, which contains the same guidelines as the core file but uses the `.mdc` extension required by Cursor's rule engine. When placed in the user's `~/.cursor/rules/` directory or the project's `.cursor/rules/` directory, Cursor automatically ingests these instructions on startup and enforces them during coding sessions. ### Windsurf Configuration Windsurf expects rule files at `/.windsurf/rules/`. The repository includes [`.windsurf/rules/ponytail.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/.windsurf/rules/ponytail.md), which places the canonical rules in Windsurf's expected location. The file uses standard Markdown format, allowing Windsurf to read and enforce the guidelines without additional configuration or syntax conversion. ## Enabling Ponytail for Your Agent To activate Ponytail rules, copy the appropriate agent-specific file from the repository to your local configuration directory. No code changes or modifications to the rule content are necessary. **Enable for Cursor:** ```bash # Copy Cursor-specific rules to global config cp .cursor/rules/ponytail.mdc ~/.cursor/rules/ponytail.mdc ``` **Enable for Windsurf:** ```bash # Copy Windsurf-specific rules to global config cp .windsurf/rules/ponytail.md ~/.windsurf/rules/ponytail.md ``` You can also copy these to individual project directories (e.g., `./.cursor/rules/ponytail.mdc`) for project-specific enforcement rather than global application. ## Disabling or Removing Rules To deactivate Ponytail guidelines, remove the rule files from the agent's configuration directory: ```bash # Remove Cursor rules rm ~/.cursor/rules/ponytail.mdc # Remove Windsurf rules rm ~/.windsurf/rules/ponytail.md ``` The agents will stop loading these rules on the next startup. ## Configuration File Reference The following files control how Ponytail rules are mapped to specific agents: - [`.agents/rules/ponytail.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/.agents/rules/ponytail.md) — Core rule set (source of truth) - `.cursor/rules/ponytail.mdc` — Cursor-compatible rule file with `.mdc` extension - [`.windsurf/rules/ponytail.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/.windsurf/rules/ponytail.md) — Windsurf-compatible rule file - [`docs/agent-portability.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/docs/agent-portability.md) — Documentation mapping agents to file paths and formats - [`README.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/README.md) — High-level integration instructions for all supported agents ## Summary - Ponytail maintains a **canonical rule set** in [`.agents/rules/ponytail.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/.agents/rules/ponytail.md) that serves as the source of truth for all agent adaptations. - **Cursor** uses `.cursor/rules/ponytail.mdc`, which must be copied to `~/.cursor/rules/` or your project directory to enable always-on guidance. - **Windsurf** reads rules from [`.windsurf/rules/ponytail.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/.windsurf/rules/ponytail.md), requiring the file to be placed at `~/.windsurf/rules/` or the project root. - Adaptation requires **no code modification**—simply copy the pre-configured agent file to the appropriate location. - The [`docs/agent-portability.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/docs/agent-portability.md) file provides the complete mapping matrix for all supported agents. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Where are the canonical Ponytail rules stored? The canonical rule set lives in [`.agents/rules/ponytail.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/.agents/rules/ponytail.md) at the repository root. This file contains the master copy of all guidelines, which is then adapted into agent-specific formats for Cursor, Windsurf, and other supported tools. ### Do I need to modify the rule files to use them with different agents? No modifications are necessary. The repository provides pre-adapted copies in agent-specific directories (such as `.cursor/rules/` and `.windsurf/rules/`) that use the correct file extensions and locations expected by each agent. Simply copy the file to your configuration directory. ### How do I disable Ponytail rules after enabling them? Delete the rule file from your agent's configuration directory. For Cursor, remove `~/.cursor/rules/ponytail.mdc`. For Windsurf, remove `~/.windsurf/rules/ponytail.md`. The agent will stop loading these rules on the next startup. ### Does Ponytail support agents other than Cursor and Windsurf? Yes. According to the repository's [`docs/agent-portability.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/docs/agent-portability.md) and README, Ponytail provides adaptations for multiple agents including Cline and others. Each agent receives a rule file placed in its expected configuration directory, following the same copy-and-use workflow described for Cursor and Windsurf.